Advanced Composite: The Future of Manufacturing Sectors Advanced composites are formulated by combining two or more materials resulting in products with specific properties. These materials provide a unique combination of strength, stiffness, thermal conductivity, lightweight, costeffective, and several other characteristics, making them ideal for a wide range of applications. An advance composite has found several authentic applications in automotive, aerospace, maritime, shipbuilding, railway, renewable energy, medical devices, biotechnology, sports materials, and many other sectors.
Understanding advanced composites Normally, Advanced composites are made of two components: Fiber: The reinforcing element, made from carbon, glass, aramid, etc. When we hear carbon fiber reinforced polymer, it’s understandable that the advance composite is composed of carbon fiber as the base material and a matrix. Matrix: It is the binding material, typically a polymer like polyester or epoxy that that binds the layers of fiber together. The fiber used as the base material brings the defined properties in the composite while the matrix holds the fibers together and helps to transfer loads between the layers of the fiber. The properties of advanced composites like Carbon Fiber reinforced Polymer or Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer could be changed or enhanced in the labs or manufacturing units by manipulating various factors during their design or manufacturing process. Selection of fiber type, fiber orientation, fiber volume,
layup design, matrix selection, and manufacturing process are some scientifically proven ways to change certain characteristics of an advance composite. This is an excellent way to attribute certain characteristics or reduce the costs of the final products.
Types of Advanced Composites 1. Carbon fiber composites: Carbon fiber composites are used in diverse manufacturing sectors such as automotive, aircraft and rocket, satellite, computer and its various equipment, medical equipment and devices, sports equipment, and electrical and electronics devices manufacturing. The material is known for its lightweight, high strength, and structural integrity.
2. Glass fiber composites: These composite materials are more affordable than carbon composites. These composites have excellent strength-toweight ratio, electrical insulation, and dimensional stability. Glass fiber composites have various applications in aerospace, automotive, wind energy, construction, and several other industries. Car bodies, aircraft fuselage, roofing materials, wind turbine blades, and many more.
3. Aramid fiber composites: These composites are composed of highresistant, high-strength synthetic fibers like Twaron or Kevlar and matrix materials like polyester resins, polyurethane, or epoxy resins. This advance composite offers excellent tensile strength, thermal conductivity, and impact resistance. The material has a wide level of applications in manufacturing sectors like railway, aerospace, and military equipment.
4. Polymer matrix composites: Lightweight and durable polymer matrix composites are ideal for manufacturing various parts and components for automotive, aerospace, construction, and medical equipment. 5. Ceramic matrix composites: These advanced composites can withstand extremely high temperatures, making them suitable for rocket engine components, missile components, gas turbine blades, nuclear reactor components, and high-temperature structural components. Other noticeable advanced composites are nano composites, hybrid composites, and smart composites. The basic properties of the composites depend on the base material, i.e. the properties of the fiber used and how the layers of the advance composite fiber are fused with the help of the matrix material.
The future of advanced composites With the increasing demand for technologically advanced automobiles, aircraft, satellites, rockets, turbines, military equipment, railway equipment, etc. the demand for advanced composites increasing simultaneously. Rockman AC, one of the pioneering advance composite products manufacturers investing in R&D for better materials and improved manufacturing techniques. They aim to enhance the versatility and performance of these remarkable materials to expand the scope of the materials in diverse manufacturing sectors like automotive, aerospace, maritime, railway, sports materials, medical equipment, construction, military equipment, and many more.
