Composite Materials: new technologies for their application in the transportation sector

Abstract

Composite materials are employed extensively by the transportation sector and are found in applications such as combat and civil aircraft, trucks, trams, boats, yachts, submarines, among others. New technologies introduced in this family of materials aim to enter this sector, either to improve structural performance, to reduce the environmental impact of pieces or parts of structures where they are not used, or to open new fields of application. This article is a brief review of three topics whose application prospects in the transportation industry are promising: a) the use of natural-fibers reinforced composites with reinforcing grids to increase rigidity, b) self-healing composites, and c) additive manufacturing.