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WHY USE
COMPOSITES? |
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| Composites offer a strong yet light
weight and economically viable alternative to traditional materials,
resulting its use in a rapidly increasing number of applications. |
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Photos:Courtesy of NASA |
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Composite materials in their most basic form are composed of at least two elements that are working together to produce material properties that are different to the properties of those elements on their own.
The use of Fibre Reinforced Plastics (FRP’s) is now commonplace in a wide variety of industries and applications. Such materials can offer significant benefits compared to metals and other plastics.
By carefully selecting the appropriate combination of reinforcement, resins and processing techniques the designer can create a product or component to meet the most demanding of specifications. At CST we can also reverse engineer from your existing
component, or we will custom manufacture to the strength that you require
for your application.
Typical benefits include: |
-High Strength
-Light Weight
-Corrosion resistance
-Excellent chemical resistance
-Excellent electrical resistance
-Dimensional stability
-Low tooling costs
-Design flexibility
-Excellent fatigue resistance
-Reduced maintenance and longer lifespans |
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| In particular carbon fibre reinforced composites offer exceptional stiffness and strength properties compared to common metals. |
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-TWICE the stiffness of aluminium
-FIVE times stronger than aluminium
-FIVE times lighter than steel |
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| That means a carbon tube with equivalent stiffness to its’ aluminium counterpart will weigh around half as much and still be considerably stronger. Carbon composites are replacing aluminium and steel in a large number of sporting, high tech and industrial applications. |
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| Where Composites Are Used |
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Due to the exceptional properties previously discussed composites are being used in a wide variety of applications in the sports industry, industrial, transport, civil, Robotics and Hi-Tech markets.
Some examples of where composites are being used in industry include: |
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-Pipes and poles
-Rollers
-Structural frames
-Cranes and booms
-Pressure vessels
-Safety walkways
-Railings
-Power poles
-Ducting
-Water pipes
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