A TEST used to predict the lifetime of composite materials used in aircraft is critically flawed, a team of materials scientists is claiming.
The lightness, strength and corrosion resistance of composites means they are being increasingly used in new aircraft designs. So working out how long they will last is crucial.
Composites used in aerospace applications consist of reinforcing fibres, usually carbon or boron, held together in a heat-resistant polymer matrix. To make sure they last well beyond the aircraft’s expected lifetime, manufacturers run “accelerated ageing” tests. To do this, they heat the materials for long periods to a temperature…
