Introduction to Aerospace Materials

15

Fibre–polymer composites for aerospace structures and engines

15.1 Introduction

Composites are an important group of materials made from a mixture of metals, ceramics and/or polymers to give a combination of properties that cannot otherwise be achieved by each on their own. Composites are usually made by combining a stiff, strong but brittle material with a ductile material to create a two-phase material characterised by high stiffness, strength and ductility. Composites consist of a reinforcement phase and a matrix phase and, usually, the reinforcement is the stiffer, stronger material which is embedded in the more ductile matrix material.

The main purpose of combining materials to create a composite is to gain a synergistic effect from ...