The Role of Composite Materials in Shaping the Future

Composite materials have brought a revolution in designing of products. They are not only light, sturdy and supple, but can also be customised for a particular application. Wood and bones are their natural forms. In 1847, Swedish chemist Berzelius became the first to make artificial saturated polyester. Today, composite materials make up a sizeable part of manufactured goods, right from products used on a daily basis to complicated niche uses. Where are composite materials used? The main consumer of composite materials is the transportation industry. Construction, electrical and electronic equipment, marine, consumer appliance and business equipment sectors are other users of composite materials. How do they help? Today, composite materials are being used even though they can be costlier because they last longer, withstand chemical corrosion better, and are superior thermal and electrical insulators and are much lighter than traditional materials such as steel. They will be used more and more as scientists unearth their unknown properties. Plastics reinforced with fibre are delivering high performance. They are being increasingly used as substitutes for steel and aluminium in daily life, right from vehicle bodies to public infrastructure. They are helping manufacturers cut costs and pass on the benefits to consumers. Composite materials are environment-friendly and can help make the world greener. Low-cost fibre reinforced plastics provide an alternative to the use of wood or steel in housing and construction sectors. Where do we go from here? The turnover of composite materials industry is expected to touch Euro 80 billion and the volume 10 million tonnes by 2015. New composite materials are expected to address environmental worries and provide lighter alternatives. They will fuel a shift away from metal across sectors including automotive, aerospace, construction, wind and wave, oil and gas, marine, and sports and healthcare equipment. Just as carbon fibre is replacing glass fibre, composites will substitute metals in vehicles and wind energy equipment. Composite materials have helped in space missions, where their success has translated into new civil commercial uses. They are set to be part of NASA’s 2020 return to moon, and may be used in the module. Fibre-reinforced ceramics which are lighter, stronger and have damage tolerance over a large temperature range are the future of propulsion technologies as they will decrease costs and increase the age of liquid rocket engine parts. What about nanocomposites? The 1990s had heralded another revolution in composite materials in the form of hybrids and nanocomposites. These cheaper materials with customised electronic and physical properties will lead to exciting uses. They can be custom-made for delivery of medicines, preventing corrosion, electronic products, vehicle parts and industrial equipment, and in plenty of other fields. A nanocomposite can be 1,000 times sturdier than the bulk material being used. Nanocomposites are also being used in sunscreen gels, lubricants. scratch-free paints, fire resisting materials, scratch resisting materials, stronger fibres and films. Prospective applications being mulled for these materials include in impeller and blade of a vacuum cleaner, cover of power tool, hood of mower and covering for portable electronic goods such as mobile phones.