Abstract
Composite materials, mainly fiber-reinforced polymers, are now used in applications where lightweight, high specific modulus and resistance, and environmental impact are critical issues. This chapter covers various polymer composite materials used for aerospace applications. Most of the polymer composites in the aircraft are made of thermoset and thermoplastic polymer. Reinforcement with engineered fiber in the polymer matrix was found to improve the properties of the polymer matrix. The effects of fiber orientation and the number of plies on the mechanical properties of the thermoset polymer composite were presented. Various types of thermoplastic polymer composite were also highlighted. The application of biocomposite and geopolymer composite was also included. This chapter concluded the importance of polymer composite materials and its future in aerospace applications.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alavudeen, A., Rajini, N., Karthikeyan, S., et al. (2015). Mechanical properties of banana/kenaf fiber-reinforced hybrid polyester composites: Effect of woven fabric and random orientation. Materials and Design, 66, 246–257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matdes.2014.10.067
Alemour, B., Badran, O., & Hassan, M. R. (2019). A review of using conductive composite materials in solving lightning strike and ice accumulation problems in aviation. Journal of Aerospace Technology and Management, 11. https://doi.org/10.5028/jatm.v11.1022
Aslan, Z., & Daricik, F. (2016). Effects of multiple delaminations on the compressive, tensile, flexural, and buckling behaviour of E-glass/epoxy composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 100, 186–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2016.06.069
Bachmann, J., Yi, X., Gong, H., et al. (2018). Outlook on ecologically improved composites for aviation interior and secondary structures. CEAS Aeronautical Journal, 9(3), 533–543. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13272-018-0298-z
Barile, C., Casavola, C., & De Cillis, F. (2019). Mechanical comparison of new composite materials for aerospace applications. Composites Part B: Engineering, 162, 122–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2018.10.101
Barile, M., Lecce, L., Iannone, M., et al. (2020). Thermoplastic composites for aerospace applications. In S. Pantelakis & K. Tserpes (Eds.), Revolutionizing aircraft materials and processes (pp. 87–114). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-35346-9_4
Bing, D. U., Liming, C. H. E. N., Houchang, L. I. U., et al. (2020). Resistance welding of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite: Experimental investigation and process parameter optimization. Chinese Journal of Aeronautics, 33(12), 3469–3478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cja.2020.02.018
Butt, J., Hewavidana, Y., Mohaghegh, V., et al. (2019). Hybrid manufacturing and experimental testing of glass fiber enhanced thermoplastic composites. Journal of Manufacturing and Materials Processing, 3(4), 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/jmmp3040096
El-Wazery, M. S., El-Elamy, M. I., & Zoalfakar, S. H. (2017). Mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polyester composites. International Journal of Applied Science and Engineering, 14(3), 121–131.
Erden, S. E. Ç. K. İ. N., Sever, K., Seki, Y., et al. (2010). Enhancement of the mechanical properties of glass/polyester composites via matrix modification glass/polyester composite siloxane matrix modification. Fibers and Polymers, 11(5), 732–737. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-010-0732-2
Guo, Y., Zou, D., Zhu, W., et al. (2019). Infrared induced repeatable self-healing and removability of mechanically enhanced graphene–epoxy flexible materials. RSC Advances, 9(25), 14024–14032. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9ra00261h
Giurgiutiu, V. (2015). Structural health monitoring of aerospace composites.
Hadigheh, S. A., & Kashi, S. (2018). Effectiveness of vacuum consolidation in bonding fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites onto concrete surfaces. Construction and Building Materials, 187, 854–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2018.07.200
Hamerton, I., & Mooring, L. (2012). The use of thermosets in aerospace applications. In Thermosets (pp. 189–227). Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1533/9780857097637.2.189
Haijuan, K., Hui, S., Jin, C., et al. (2018). Improvement of adhesion of kevlar fabrics to epoxy by surface modification with acetic anhydride in supercritical carbon dioxide. Polymer Composites, 40(S1), E920–E927. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.25100
He, H. W., & Gao, F. (2015). Effect of fiber volume fraction on the flexural properties of unidirectional carbon fiber/epoxy composites. International Journal of Polymer Analysis and Characterization, 20(2), 180–189. https://doi.org/10.1080/1023666x.2015.989076
He, P., Jia, D., Lin, T., et al. (2010). Effects of high-temperature heat treatment on the mechanical properties of unidirectional carbon fiber reinforced geopolymer composites. Ceramics International, 36(4), 1447–1453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceramint.2010.02.012
Hemanth, R. D., Kumar, M. S., Gopinath, A., et al. (2017). Evaluation of mechanical properties of E-Glass and coconut fiber reinforced with polyester and epoxy resin matrices. International Journal of Mechanical and Production Engineering Research and Development, 7(5), 13–20. https://doi.org/10.24247/ijmperdoct20172
Hiremath, N., Young, S., Ghossein, H., et al. (2020). Low cost textile-grade carbon-fiber epoxy composites for automotive and wind energy applications. Composites Part B: Engineering, 198, 108156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.108156
Hron, R., Kadlec, M., & Martaus, F. (2018). Mechanical properties of fibre reinforced geopolymer composites exposed to operating fluids. Solid State Phenomena, 278, 82–88. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/ssp.278.82
Ilyas, R. A., Sapuan, S. M., Norizan, M. N., et al. (2019). Potential of natural fibre composites for transport industry: A review. Prosiding Seminar Enau Kebangsaan, 2019, 2–11.
İnal, O., Akbolat, M. Ç., Soutis, C., et al. (2021). Toughening mechanisms in cost-effective carbon-epoxy laminates with thermoplastic veils: Mode-I and in-situ SEM fracture characterisation. International Journal of Lightweight Materials and Manufacture, 4(1), 50–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijlmm.2020.07.003
Kamiyama, S., Hirano, Y., Okada, T., et al. (2018). Lightning strike damage behavior of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy, bismaleimide, and polyetheretherketone composites. Composites Science and Technology, 161, 107–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compscitech.2018.04.009
Karthigairajan, M., Nagarajan, P. K., Malarvannan, R. R., et al. (2020). Effect of silane-treated rice husk derived biosilica on visco-elastic, thermal conductivity and hydrophobicity behavior of epoxy biocomposite coating for air-duct application. SILICON, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-020-00772-z
Khalili, S., Rantanen, E., Bogdanov, D., et al. (2019). Global transportation demand development with impacts on the energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in a climate-constrained world. Energies, 12(20), 3870. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12203870
Lapeña-Rey, N., Gonzalez-Garcia, A. M., Martin-Alonso, P. P., et al. (2015). Fire resistant sustainable aircraft interior panels. U.S. Patent Application 14/591,855.
Lau, K. T., Hung, P. Y., Zhu, M. H., et al. (2018). Properties of natural fibre composites for structural engineering applications. Composites Part B: Engineering, 136, 222–233. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.10.038
Li, W., Guo, S., Giannopoulos, I. K., et al. (2020). Strength enhancement of bonded composite laminate joints reinforced by composite Pins. Composite Structures, 236, 111916. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2020.111916
Liang, F., Tang, Y., Gou, J., et al. (2009). Multifunctional nanocomposites with high damping performance for aerospace structures. ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, 43840, 267–273. https://doi.org/10.1115/imece2009-12542
Liu, X., Yi, X., & Zhu, J. (2018). Bio-based epoxies and composites as environmentally friendly alternative materials. In Thermosets (pp. 621–637). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-101021-1.00019-8
Lu, B. (2010). The Boeing 787 dreamliner designing an aircraft for the future. Journal of Young Investigators, 4026, 34.
Lyon, R. E., Balaguru, P. N., Foden, A., et al. (1997). Fire-resistant aluminosilicate composites. Fire and Materials, 21(2), 67–73. https://doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1099-1018(199703)21:2%3C67::aid-fam596%3E3.0.co;2-n
Ma, Y., Zhang, Y., Sugahara, T., et al. (2016). Off-axis tensile fatigue assessment based on residual strength for the unidirectional 45 carbon fiber-reinforced composite at room temperature. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 90, 711–723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2016.09.001
Mansor, M. R., Nurfaizey, A. H., Tamaldin, N., et al. (2019). Natural fiber polymer composites: Utilization in aerospace engineering. In Biomass, biopolymer-based materials, and bioenergy (pp. 203–224). Woodhead Publishing.
Marsh, G. (2016). Composites consolidate in commercial aviation. Journal of Reinforced Plastics, 60(5), 302–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.repl.2016.08.002
Martin, P. P., Gonzalez-Garcia, A., Lapena, N., et al. (2017). Green aircraft interior panels. U.S. Patent 9,782,944.
McCarthy, R. F. J., Haines, G. H., & Newley, R. A. (1994). Polymer composite applications to aerospace equipment. Composites Manufacturing, 5(2), 83–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/0956-7143(94)90059-0
Muhammad, A., Rahman, M. R., Baini, R., et al. (2021). Applications of sustainable polymer composites in automobile and aerospace industry. In Advances in sustainable polymer composites (pp. 185–207). Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-820338-5.00008-4
Müller, T. (2013). Rear-illuminable aircraft interior component. Airbus Operations GmbH, U.S. Patent 8, 501, 311.
Muralidhara, B., Babu, S. K., & Suresha, B. (2020). Utilizing vacuum bagging process to prepare carbon fiber/epoxy composites with improved mechanical properties. Materials Today: Proceedings, 27, 2022–2028. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2019.09.051
Naresh, K., Shankar, K., & Velmurugan, R. (2018). Reliability analysis of tensile strengths using Weibull distribution in glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy composites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 133, 129–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2017.09.002
Norkhairunnisa, M., & Fariz, M. N. (2015). Geopolymer: A review on physical properties of inorganic aluminosilicate coating materials. Materials Science Forum, 803, 367–373. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/msf.803.367
Paolillo, S., Bose, R. K., Santana, M. H., et al. (2021). Intrinsic self-healing epoxies in polymer matrix composites (PMCs) for aerospace applications. Polymers, 13(2), 201. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13020201
Petroudy, S. D. (2017). Physical and mechanical properties of natural fibers. In Advanced high strength natural fibre composites in construction (pp. 59–83). Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-08-100411-1.00003-0
Pitarresi, G., Scalici, T., & Catalanotti, G. (2019). Infrared thermography assisted evaluation of static and fatigue Mode II fracture toughness in FRP composites. Composite Structures, 226, 111220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2019.111220
Rahmani, H., Najafi, S. H. M., & Ashori, A. (2014). Mechanical performance of epoxy/carbon fiber laminated composites. Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 33(8), 733–740. https://doi.org/10.1177/0731684413518255
Rahmani, H., Najafi, S. H. M., Saffarzadeh-Matin, S., et al. (2013). Mechanical properties of carbon fiber/epoxy composites: Effects of number of plies, fiber contents, and angle-ply layers. Polymer Engineering & Science, 54(11), 2676–2682. https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.23820
Ray, B. C., & Rathore, D. (2015). Environmental damage and degradation of FRP composites: A review report. Polymer Composites, 36(3), 410–423. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.22967
Redazione (2018). High-flying epoxies use of epoxy resins in aircraft design. Aviation Report.com. http://en.aviation-report.com/high-flying-expoxies-use-of-epoxy-resins-in-aircraft-design/
Reis, J. M. L., Coelho, J. L. V., Monteiro, A. H., et al. (2012). Tensile behavior of glass/epoxy laminates at varying strain rates and temperatures. Composites Part B: Engineering, 43(4), 2041–2046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.02.005
Roy, P., Defersha, F., Rodriguez-Uribe, A., et al. (2020). Evaluation of the life cycle of an automotive component produced from biocomposite. Journal of Cleaner Production, 273, 123051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123051
Saravanakumar, K., Suresh Kumar, C., & Arumugam, V. (2021). Damage monitoring of glass/epoxy laminates with different interply fiber orientation using acoustic emission. Structural Health Monitoring. https://doi.org/10.1177/1475921720939064
Silva, T. T. D., Silveira, P. H. P. M. D., Ribeiro, M. P., et al. (2021). Thermal and chemical characterization of Kenaf Fiber (Hibiscus cannabinus) reinforced epoxy matrix composites. Polymers, 13(12), 2016. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13122016
Smith, J. T., Lasell, D. M., Daout, J. M., & Safran Seats USA LLC. (2018). Thermoplastic composite components for commercial aircraft seats. U.S. Patent Application 15/747,814.
Soutis, C. (2015). Introduction: Engineering requirements for aerospace composite materials. In Polymer composites in the aerospace industry (pp. 1–18). Woodhead Publishing.
Stratview Research. (2021). Aerospace & defense thermoplastic composites market size, share, trend, forecast, & competitive analysis: 2021–2026. SRAD156, p. 288.
Sudhin, A. U., Remanan, M., Ajeesh, G., et al. (2020). Comparison of properties of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic and thermosetting composites for aerospace applications. Materials Today: Proceedings, 24, 453–462. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.04.297
Sun, G., Zuo, W., Chen, D., et al. (2021). On the effects of temperature on tensile behavior of carbon fiber reinforced epoxy laminates. Thin-Walled Structures, 164, 107769. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tws.2021.107769
Struzziero, G., Teuwen, J. J., & Skordos, A. A. (2019). Numerical optimisation of thermoset composites manufacturing processes: A review. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 124, 105499. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2019.105499
Tanzil, A. H., Brandt, K., Wolcott, M., et al. (2021). Strategic assessment of sustainable aviation fuel production technologies: Yield improvement and cost reduction opportunities. Biomass & Bioenergy, 145, 105942. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2020.105942
Tatsumi, G., Ratoi, M., Shitara, Y., et al. (2019). Effect of lubrication on friction and wear properties of PEEK with steel counterparts. Tribology Online, 14(5), 345–352.
Teplyk, Y., Hapon, V., & Tuz, M. (2020). Thermoplastic materials-a new stage in the life of aircraft construction. Proceedings of National Aviation University, 84(3).
Thang, X. N., Kroisova, D., Louda, P., et al. (2010). Microstructure and flexural properties of geopolymer matrix-fibre reinforced composite with additives of alumina (Al2O3) nanofibres. In International conference 7th–TEXSCI, Czech Republic.
Timmis, A. J., Hodzic, A., Koh, L., et al. (2015). Environmental impact assessment of aviation emission reduction through the implementation of composite materials. International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 20(2), 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-014-0824-0
Väisänen, T., Haapala, A., Lappalainen, R., et al. (2016). Utilization of agricultural and forest industry waste and residues in natural fiber-polymer composites: A review. Waste Management, 54, 62–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2016.04.037
Vos, S. F., & Ebeling, T. A. (2010). Thermoplastic composite material with improved smoke generation, heat release, and mechanical properties. U.S. Patent Application 12/220,410.
Wang, Y., Nuzzo, S., Zhang, H., et al. (2020). Challenges and opportunities for wound field synchronous generators in future more electric aircraft. IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification, 6(4), 1466–1477. https://doi.org/10.1109/tte.2020.2980189
Wild, G., Pollock, L., Abdelwahab, A. K., et al. (2021). The need for aerospace structural health monitoring: A review of aircraft fatigue accidents. International Journal of Prognostics and Health Management, 12(3). https://doi.org/10.36001/ijphm.2021.v12i3.2368
Williams, J. C., & Boyer, R. R. (2020). Opportunities and issues in the application of titanium alloys for aerospace components. Metals, 10(6), 705. https://doi.org/10.3390/met10060705
Yang, J., Xiao, J., Zeng, J., et al. (2013). Matrix modification with silane coupling agent for carbon fiber reinforced epoxy composites. Fibers and Polymers, 14(5), 759–766. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-013-0759-2
Zhao, F., Liu, F., Liu, Z., et al. (2019). The correlated impacts of fuel consumption improvements and vehicle electrification on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions in China. Journal of Cleaner Production, 207, 702–716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.046
Zin, M. H., Abdan, K., Mazlan, N., et al. (2019). Automated spray up process for pineapple leaf fibre hybrid biocomposites. Composites Part B: Engineering, 177, 107306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2019.107306
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ION2), and Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP) in Universiti Putra Malaysia for the space and facilities to conduct the experiment on polymer composite. Special thanks are also given to Kyushu Institute of Technology (KyuTech), Japan, for the research collaboration in polymer composite materials.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ramli, N., Norkhairunnisa, M., Ando, Y., Abdan, K., Leman, Z. (2022). Advanced Polymer Composite for Aerospace Engineering Applications. In: Mazlan, N., Sapuan, S., Ilyas, R. (eds) Advanced Composites in Aerospace Engineering Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88192-4_1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-88192-4_1
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-88191-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-88192-4
eBook Packages: Chemistry and Materials ScienceChemistry and Material Science (R0)