CW Blog

National Composites Week is a great time to reflect on many of the ways composites are used to protect us or keep us safe. From fire-retardant materials used in architecture and the transportation industry to defense applications, composites have the ability to provide strength, stiffness, durability and corrosion resistance combined with safety considerations.

As we celebrate National Composites Week lets take some time to consider some of the ways composites contribute to one of humankind’s most sought after pursuits — the quest for constant entertainment.  

As we celebrate National Composites Week, it’s exciting to consider some of the many ways the composites industry contributes to improving lives. Composites play a large role in the development of new aircraft from commercial airlines to experimental craft aimed at solving urban mobility concerns. Composites also play a role in light-weighting for automotive, particularly with the increasing development of electric vehicles. 

As we celebrate National Composites Week, it’s important to look at the many ways the composites industry is working toward a sustainable world. Lightweighting in aerospace and automotive through the use of carbon fiber and other composites helps to conserve fuel and reduce CO2 emissions. Glass fiber and carbon fiber composites are used in wind turbine blades, providing a sustainable source of energy to communities across the globe. Natural fibers and bio-resins provide sustainable materials for use in products in a variety of fields.

Products created with composites are much more corrosion resistant than many traditional building materials including wood, steel and concrete. Fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) is playing an increasing important role in infrastructure. It is being used to rehab and reinforce existing infrastructure and also is gaining more consideration for new building projects. FRP rebar doesn’t corrode and decay the concrete it reinforces the way iron rebar does.