Composite materials

Use

Depending on the characteristics of the matrix and the reinforcements, there are generally two main families:

• Widely used and low-cost composites, which occupy a large share of the market
• High performance composites, generally reinforced with continuous carbon or aramid fibers, which are reserved to high added value sectors

Composite materials offer industrialists and designers new possibilities to combine shapes and materials that are more and more efficient. Because of their lightness, longevity and flexibility, these materials have great potential for development.

The composite industry has been growing steadily for several years, thanks to a greater penetration of this material in key markets such as construction, wind, sports, leisure, building, aeronautics and automotive, to replace other materials in new uses.

It thus finds applications in the "low cost" areas - largely dominated by glass fiber reinforcements - as in "high tech" and within this market, high-performance carbon fibers composites develop very rapidly as well as natural fibers.