Polymer composites in aerospace applications

Abstract

The requirement of materials for aerospace industries includes light weight, high reliability, durability against corrosion, vacuum, radiation, fatigue and passenger safety. Polymeric materials, being light weight, are replacing the conventional metal and ceramics, especially in an aerospace application. Often, there is a trade-off between the requirement and actual properties of pure materials. Filled systems circumvent these shortcomings with improved properties without additional cost. Various fillers including nanofillers reinforce the pristine polymer keeping in contact with its original properties. Nowadays, polymer composites are replacing the other materials widely in aerospace applications. Different dimensions of the fillers are confined to achieve superior properties in composites. Improved properties in terms of mechanical, thermal, gas barrier, optical and special effects have been discussed in this chapter considering their uses in aerospace applications. The reason for improved properties has also been explored through synergistic effect. The various processing techniques for polymer composite manufacturing have been discussed. Wide range of applications in aerospace has been presented at the end. © 2020 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc.