Composite materials at a glance

What are composite materials?

Composites are made from two or more constituent materials, each with different properties. When combined, they create a material with properties greater than the sum of its parts. Examples include polymer, ceramic, and metal matrix composites.

Fibre-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are a subset of polymer matrix composites and the focus of our Chemistry-enabled sustainable composites report.

Both strong and lightweight, FRPs are used in a wide range of industries where high-strength structures are required.

The main types of composite materials Picture: National Composites Centre / Royal Society of Chemistry

Fibre-reinforced polymer composites

FRPs are composite materials made from a thermoset or thermoplastic polymer that is reinforced with fibre, typically carbon or glass. The main advantages of FRPs are their durability, design freedom, low weight, high strength and stiffness.

Applications in industry include:

wind turbine blades
gas (e.g. hydrogen) and liquid tanks and pipes
aeroplane wings, fuselage, empennage and interiors
vehicle body panels and interiors
roofs, pipes, cladding, window frames
foot, road and rail bridges
military equipment
the hull, deck and masts of boats.

Visit the NCC website to explore the roles of composites in everyday life.

Understanding the differences between composites

Fibre-reinforced polymer composites (FRPs) consist of strong fibres embedded in a resin matrix.

When a composite is put under load each individual fibre bears a degree of that load. The resin acts to hold the fibres in position and protects them from damage and degradation (cracking, for example). The alignment of the fibre direction and overall design of the structure is, therefore, typically arranged around the desired load requirements and associated design envelope. The selection of the matrix is usually based on the environmental conditions (for example, exposure to heat, light, moisture) the application will operate within.

	Thermoset	Thermoplastic
Chemistry	Crosslinking between polymer chains forms a very stable crosslinked matrix	Weaker associations between the polymer chains rather than cross-linking bonds to form a reformable system
Examples	Wind turbine blades, aeroplane wings, hydrogen storage tanks	Automotive interior trim, oil and gas pipes
UK market share (value) in 2019	Epoxy = 43% Unsaturated polyester = 38% Vinyl ester = 3% Total = 84%	Polypropylene= 9% Polyamide = 6% Other = 1% Total = 16%

The main fibres used in composites are glass and carbon. Carbon fibre, however, has an environmental impact approximately 10 times larger than that of glass fibre because of how it is made.

In addition to resins and fibres, composites contain a variety of other components, which add additional functionality such as toughening agents and coatings.

	Glass fibre	Carbon fibre
Feedstock	Primarily derived from silica (sand)	Can be derived from many sources but the dominant source is petrochemical derived acrylonitrile
Production	Glass is drawn into fibres	Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) is drawn into fibres. Multiple processing steps remove acrylonitrile functionality and generate the highly unsaturated graphitic poly-crystalline structures which are the bulk of the ultimate fibre product
Examples	Wind turbine blades, boat hulls, bridges	Wing structures, hydrogen tanks, Formula 1 car parts
UK market share (value) in 2019	59%	41%

The major advantage of composites compared to other engineering materials, such as metals, is their strength- (and stiffness) to-weight ratio. The combination of polymer and, typically, carbon fibre used in composites have an overall lower density than engineering metals like steel and aluminium. They can, therefore, achieve the same or better mechanical performance for less weight.

The UK composites industry

The UK is a world leader in composite manufacture. In 2019, the UK composites market was worth £4 billion and is expected to reach £6.3 billion in 2035.

FRPs are widely used in aerospace, automotive, construction and infrastructure, defence, marine, oil and gas, rail, and wind. The growing hydrogen market is also expected to place significant demand on supplies of carbon fibre polymer composite.

How FRPs contribute to net zero

As well as their contribution to the UK economy, FRPs are crucial to delivering the UK’s net zero targets by 2050.

FRPs are used in renewable energy technologies, such as wind turbine blades.
They enable the lightweighting of transport to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Their durability extends the lifetime of infrastructure.
They are likely to be in demand for hydrogen storage and transportation.

Pie chart showing a breakdown of selected segments of the UK composites industry as at 2019. Picture: Lucintel / Royal Society of Chemistry

The composites supply chain

The sourcing of materials and formulations required to manufacture composites is a global operation.

Chemical producers tend to supply raw materials to other formulators rather than directly to composites manufacturers.

In the UK, many of the raw materials used in the composite industry, such as glass and carbon fibres, are imported. For example, the UK’s wind energy market imports over 60% of composite parts.

The diagram below summarises the composite supply chain and the different types of companies involved.

composites supply chain

Schematic representation of the composite supply chain Picture: National Composites Centre / Royal Society of Chemistry

FRPs and sustainability

Nearly all (95%) FRPs are made from virgin materials derived from fossil fuels. While their durability means that they can be in use for many years, most FRPs end up in landfill at the end of their life.

In 2019, around 110,000 tonnes of FRPs were produced in the UK.

Those 110,000 tonnes of FRPs weigh as much as 52 London Eyes.

However, just 6% of composite material will be reused in secondary application.

6% - reclaimed and reused

94% - landfilled or incinerated

We need to move away from the current petrochemical-based linear supply chain to a more sustainable model based on a circular economy. This will mean that sustainably sourced materials are fed into a closed loop with minimal subsequent losses during manufacture and at end of life.

The current composites industry follows a linear economy

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