Textile Structural Composites

Abstract

Composites generally comprise two components: a reinforcement material and a matrix or binder. Textile composites have flexible reinforcements that are fibers, yarns, or fabrics (preforms). The matrix or binder is a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer, metal, or ceramic. Textile composites are either rigid or flexible. Rigid textile composites have important structural applications in aerospace, automobiles, electronics, military, and sports. The major properties of textile structural composites are high stiffness, high strength, and low density. Other properties include high temperature resistance, corrosion resistance, hardness, and conductivity. The range of textile manufacturing technologies (knitting, braiding, and weaving) permit the optimized engineering of composite configuration. A review of textile structural composites describes textile composite materials, classification of textile reinforcement structures, manufacture of textile preforms, composite manufacturing, composite properties and testing, applications of textile structural composites, and the future of textile structural composites.