Arresting And Self-healing Cracks: Paving The Way For Next Generation Composite Materials
Monday, August 4, 2008 - 11:28
in Physics & Chemistry
Materials that can stop a crack and then self-heal have been brought a step closer to reality. New research will focus on carbon fiber polymer composites - materials made by combining extremely stiff and strong fibers with polymers to create strong, durable and lightweight materials. These are particularly important in the aerospace and transport industries, which use carbon fiber composites to make aircraft wings, helicopter rotor blades and ship hulls.