New matrix systems for the 1990s

Whether it be a thermoplastic that can withstand temperatures of more than 1000°F. or a thermoplastic-modified thermoset tailored to improve the toughness and processability of advanced-polymer composites, the latest ultra-high-performance matrix-resin systems are causing design engineers to rethink their notions of what plastics can do. Development of such polymer-dependent aircraft is helping to pave the way for the super alloys of the future-polymeric thermoplastic/thermoset hybrids that will combine and enlarge upon the best characteristics of both resin types. This article discusses the developments in these matrix-resin systems and their applications to aerospace engineering.