The role of advanced polymer materials in aerospace

Until recently metals were mostly used in the construction of aerospace structures, however, advances in materials science, especially in composites science and technology, allowed the development of promising new materials for aerospace engineering. Composites are hybrid materials developed by combining two or more components, in order to utilize the advantageous features of each component. Recently, fiber-reinforced polymer composites, developed by reinforcing different types of matrices with fibrous materials have garnered tremendous attention in aerospace engineering. Aerospace materials carry the loads exerted on the airframe of the aircraft during its flight operation from take-off, through cruising, to the final landing stage. Aerospace materials are also used in primary and secondary structural parts, including rocket motor castings, antenna dishes, engine nacelles, horizontal and vertical stabilizers, center wing boxes, aircraft wings, pressure bulkheads, landing gear doors, engine cowls, floor beams, tall cones, flap track panels, vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and so on. Some of these components are considered safety-critical. Aerospace materials also encompass jet engine structural materials such as turbine blades and other important components.