COMPOSITES
A composite is a specific combination of two or more materials that improves the properties of the individual components. Nature itself has demonstrated the principle that high-strength fibres are the most suitable lightweight material for absorbing forces. Wood, plant leaves, muscles and bones are just a few examples of composite structures that occur naturally. Today, composites are generally understood to mean a combination of high-strength fibres and a plastic.
The fibres critically determine the mechanical characteristics of the composite, such as its strength and rigidity. The materials generally used are glass, carbon or aramid. For high-performance composites, exclusively continuous fibres (where the length of the fibre corresponds to that of the component) are used in the form of woven fabrics or non-woven fabrics. The matrix material, too, performs a crucial function. It transfers the forces between the fibres, provides support to stop them from kinking and protects them against external attack. A distinction is made between thermoset plastics and thermoplastics. Thermoplastics such as LPET, PET, PA and PPS offer clear advantages in terms of forming properties, design freedom (welding properties, insert moulding with other thermoplastics), shelf life and ease of recycling.
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