Fibre-Reinforced Composites

Dear Colleagues,

The light weight design potential of fibre reinforced polymer composites leads to increasing applications of these materials in various industrial sectors such as aerospace or automotive industry. Moreover, nowadays we observe the replacement of a number of conventional engineering materials thanks to the superior mass-specific mechanical performance and good processability of fibre reinforced polymers.

This potential can be further explored by combining the right components and the right processing techniques. This offers the possibility of tailoring the fibre reinforced composites performance in a very wide range, according to the respective requirements.

In this special issue the latest developments in the field of fibre reinforced polymeric composites are discussed. High performance continuous carbon-fibre reinforced thermosetting polymers as well as the mass produced and widespread short glass-fibre reinforced thermoplastics are here included. New material combinations like natural fibre reinforced polymers or continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics are of increasing scientific interest. Furthermore novel trends related to the single components, like fibre and resin modification or textile processing techniques, e. g. performing, are covered.

But how do the processing, the single components and their interaction affect the final material`s properties? This special issue is based on the fundamental understanding of the processing-structure-properties-relationships in the field of fibre-reinforced polymers.

Prof. Dr. Volker Altstädt
Guest Editor