How Industrial Composites Differ From Aerospace Composites

Industry Information|

It’s easy for people who don’t work extensively with advanced composites to assume that all composites are basically the same. Nothing could be further from the truth. Take industrial and aerospace composites. They may look similar. They may share some similar properties. But industrial composites are quite different compared to their aerospace counterparts.

It must be understood that composites don’t necessarily have to be things like carbon fiber and Kevlar. A composite material is any material comprising two or more separate materials combined to improve the properties of each one. According to the strict definition, manufactured wood flooring is a composite material.

Industrial Composite Basics

Industrial composites are materials manufactured by combining two constituent substances. In most cases, you’re looking at a fiber plus a resin or matrix. The resulting materials are deployed extensively across many industrial applications, including heavy machinery, chemical processing, and manufacturing.

The most common industrial composites include:

Glass fiber reinforced polymers
Carbon fiber reinforced polymers
Aramid fibers
Phenolic and epoxy composites
Thermoplastic composites

Interestingly, most of these materials look like simple plastic to the naked eye. But to someone with experience in industrial composites, they are so much more.

Aerospace Composite Basics

Aerospace composites are similar to their industrial counterparts but with one big and notable difference: they are specifically engineered for air and spacecraft applications. They are engineered with extremely high strength-to-weight ratios and the ability to perform under the harshest conditions.

The three most common aerospace composites are:

Carbon fiber reinforced polymers
Aramid and glass fiber composites
Ceramic and metal matrix composites

Aerospace composites are used to manufacture fuselage panels, wings, fuel tanks, ailerons, and more. They must be able to withstand temperature extremes. They must hold up to weather, high altitudes, intense wind speeds, and more.

How the Two Composites Differ

Many of the materials utilized to create industrial composites are also part of the aerospace composite equation. Yet the two types of composites are engineered for different purposes. Here are multiple ways they differ in real, practical terms:

Performance Standards – Industrial composites need to be durable, chemically resistant, and cost effective. Aerospace composites are engineered for extreme fatigue and temperature tolerance. They must be as light as possible without compromising strength.
Material Quality – Industrial composites are manufactured using general-purpose fibers and resins. Aerospace composites are manufactured with ultra-high purity fibers, prepregs, and aerospace-grade epoxies.
Manufacturing Methods – A variety of methods are used to manufacture industrial composites. These include open-mold and manual layups. Aerospace composites require more extreme manufacturing methods and process controls. Prepreg and autoclave curing are common in aerospace.
Testing and Certification – Industrial composites must meet basic mechanical and chemical performance testing. Aerospace composites are subject to more rigorous aviation and aerospace regulations. They must be certified and are subject to continuous quality checks.
Cost – Industrial composites are less expensive and more easily accessible thanks to higher volumes and broader applications. Aerospace composites are very costly. They are used only where performance and safety demands require them.

Industrial composites are usable for a variety of applications. Construction panels, machine housings, and industrial structures are just a few examples. Aerospace composites are more precise in their application. They are most commonly used in the manufacture of wings, fuselage sections or panels, control surfaces, and engine components.

Here at Aerodine, we manufacture both industrial and aerospace composites. We support companies in a variety of industries whose engineering demands require reliable, durable, and tough manufacturing materials. If you would like more information about our products and services, contact us. Aerodine is composites. Composites are what we do.