Looking Ahead to Advanced Composites That Could Define 2023

In recent years, the advanced composites industry has undergone turbulent periods of change. In 2020, production levels shrunk in response to stimuli introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, growth is back on track and the industry is forecasted to garner $88.7 billion by 2031. As we progress towards that point, we’d like to pause and take a look ahead to the advanced composites that will occupy a significant share of the market in 2023. Continue reading to learn more.

Carbon Fiber

Carbon fiber is hardly new to the advanced composites industry. In fact, it led all other materials in 2021 by contributing to 60% of the global market, and it will likely continue to lead the pack throughout 2023 and at least until the end of the aforementioned forecast period in 2031. All advanced manufacturers are familiar with carbon fiber, and it’s easy to understand why. Common preferred benefits of carbon fiber include the following:

• High strength to weight ratio
• Low thermal expansion
• Remarkable durability

Why fix what isn’t broken? Carbon fiber is a stellar composite material, and it will most likely continue to be a massive boon for aerospace manufacturers.

Thermoplastics

Thermoset resins have long been the mainstay of the composites industry, especially for aerospace applications, but thermoplastics have steadily been making inroads across the composites industry as a whole. Thermoplastic will continue to increase market share through 2023, but what makes thermoplastics such a great manufacturing material?

• Low cycle times – unlike many thermoset composites, thermoplastics, have extremely short processing times, lending them to high-rate production.
• Long Shelf Life – Thermoplastic resins don’t degrade the same way that thermosets can, meaning the shelf life is significantly longer and the plastic can be heated and reshaped many times
• Environmentally Friendly – The fact the thermoplastic resin can be reused and reshaped many times allows them to be recycled and recalimed

These beneficial traits make thermoplastics a top choice for a wide variety of end-use applications.

Aerospace & Defense Applications of These Composites

The aerospace and defense sectors lean heavily on advanced composites to manufacture their new generation products, whether that be aircraft or something else. Since carbon fiber and thermoplastics are projected to continue dominating the market, we expect that the number of applications in aerospace and defense will grow as well. Throughout 2023, stay tuned to premier aerospace and defense manufacturers to see the new and innovative uses of these advanced composites.

What other advanced composites will lay the groundwork for new trends of advanced manufacturing in the new year? Outside of carbon fiber and thermoplastics, that remains to be seen. However, Mentis Sciences will be at the forefront of advanced composite manufacturing throughout 2023 and beyond, so we are your go-to source for all matters involving advance composites, composite testing, and more. Please contact Mentis Sciences to learn more about the benefits of advanced composites to your project.