In 1200 A.D., the Mongols invented the first composite bow, combining bamboo, silk, cattle tendons and pine resin to make a tool that was swifter and more powerful than those of their rivals. Since then, composites have transformed the technologies of many industries and today play a vital role in renewable energy transformation. Here Robert Glass, Head of Marketing at leading composites technology company, Exel Composites, examines the progress of composites, their advantages over traditional materials like steel and why they are being increasingly used in different sectors, particularly to improve renewable energy sources.
Although the method of combining materials has been around for thousands of years, compared to legacy materials such as steel, aluminum and iron, composites are still coming of age. While industries are still awakening to the benefits of composite materials, their physical properties make them an undeniably attractive option.
This article appeared in the September–October 2020 issue of Reinforced Plastics.
