Aeronautical composites and materials

Previously, metals have been utilized in the construction of aerospace structures. Advancements in aerospace science and technology had turned this industry toward the use of polymers. Combination of polymers with fillers has resulted in the development and use of high-performance composite materials. Polymeric composites possess several advantageous properties relative to the neat polymers and metal-based structures. Epoxy, phenolic, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, polycarbonate, and a range of other polymers have been frequently used as aeronautical matrices. The most common and important type of fillers used in these composites include fibers such as carbon fiber, glass fibers, and aramid fibers. Fiber-reinforced polymeric composites have garnered massive attention in aerospace engineering. Hence, this introductory chapter explains the important aspects of polymers, fillers, and composite materials in aerospace engineering. Composite materials have been applied in numerous primary and secondary structural parts of aerospace structures. A number of studies have defined numerous high-performance commercial composites for future high-tech aerospace industry.