Lightweight Composite Materials and （轻质复合材料,）.pdfVIP

Lightweight Composite Materials and Manufacturing Dr. Ben Wang Georgia Tech Manufacturing Institute Georgia Institute of Technology Point of View Paper March 4, 2013 Advanced Composite Industry Lightweight, high-strength, fiber-reinforced composites represent a fast growing industry that is vital to the economic future and national security of the U.S. In 2005, the composites industry employed nearly 300,000 people and contributed more than $45 billion to the U.S. economy. A $110 billion market is predicted over the next decade. As shown in the following figure, Generation I composites, made with fiberglass and early carbon fibers, served as metal replacements in secondary, non-load-bearing aircraft parts in the 1940’s – 1970’s. The Generation I success spurred the development and massive use of modern carbon fibers in load-bearing structures that replaced metals. State-of-the-art, or Generation II, composites brought about a broader use in selected structures. 813 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0560 | | 404-894-9100 Page 1 The 1970’s-80’s saw major investments being made in constituent materials (reinforcement fibers and matrices), processes, design guidelines and property analysis tools. Advancements in the 1980’s and 1990’s resulted in innovative uses of composites in commercial aerospace, auto, marine, space and sporting goods. These advancements also expanded applications for the military, due to the materials’ unparalleled ability to solve seemingly contradictory requirements, such as reducing weight while increasing mechanical properties. These significant developments catapulted the