COMPOSITES COMPARED

Composites are gaining traction in lots of industries, from architecture

to infrastructure and automotive. They offer clear advantages that
make them an ideal replacement for a variety of materials, including
steel, aluminum, wood and granite. Composites are fast becoming the
material of choice.

Composites vs. Steel

Composites offer several advantages over steel, which has intrinsic design
limitations, is heavy and costly to transport and is susceptible to corrosion,
which leads to high maintenance costs.
• Composites are lighter than steel – A cubic foot of cast steel weighs
approximately 490 pounds. Depending on the material formulation,
composites can be up to 70 percent lighter.
• Composites are incredibly strong – They can be custom-tailored to add
strength in critical areas, such as spots that may bend or wear out. With
steel, if greater strength is needed in any area then more metal must
be added, which in turn increases weight.
• Composites are corrosion resistant – In outdoor applications,
composites stand up to severe weather and wide temperature
changes. Steel rusts easily unless it is painted or coated with zinc. And
corrosion is expensive, with annual direct costs hitting $2.2 trillion.
• Composites are nonconductive – By their very nature, metals like steel
conduct electricity. Composites are superior insulators: They don’t
respond to an electric field and resist the flow of an electric charge.
• Composites allow for parts consolidation – A single piece made of
composites can replace an entire assembly of metal parts, streamlining
the production process and reducing lifetime maintenance.

Composites vs. Aluminum

By using composites to manufacture 50% of the Boeing 787’s airframe, the

aerospace leader knocked 20% of the weight off the aircraft compared to
conventional aluminum designs.

Composites offer other advantages over aluminum, too:

• Composites are excellent at handling tension – In highly tension-loaded
applications, such as the fuselage of airplanes, this helps decrease
fatigue and maintenance. Aluminum is sensitive to tension loads.
• Composites can create one-piece designs – Fabricating a product in
one piece, whether it’s an airplane wing or a wind blade, reduces
maintenance because there aren’t any fasteners or joints.

1 Ar K.Manikandan
Professor
 • Composites allow for precise weight distribution – In an application
such as baseball bats, this allows for either balanced loading that
contributes to an effortless, fast swing or end loading, which helps
power hitters gain more distance. Aluminum alloy bats have less
precise weight distribution.
• Composites are strong, yet flexible – Composites ski poles, for instance,
usually offer more flexibility and durability than standard aluminum
ones: They can bend significantly without snapping.
• Composites absorb vibrations – Because they are non-elastic,
composites dissipate the energy of vibrations, making them well-suited
for applications ranging from equipment mounts to athletic shoe
insoles. Aluminum doesn’t absorb vibrations as well as composites.

Composites vs. Wood

Wood is actually a natural composite – a combination of cellulose fiber and

lignin. Some composite applications, including fishing poles and golf club
shafts, copy the natural design of woods such as bamboo. But manmade
composites have clear-cut advantages over wood:
• Composites are long lasting – Wood eventually rots, but composites
are durable. Think about the marine industry: Wooden boats require
considerable care to last an owner’s lifetime, while many composite
boats remain afloat for 50-plus years with routine maintenance.
• Composites are dimensionally stable – They retain their shape and size
when they are hot or cool, wet or dry. Wood, on the other hand, swells
and shrinks as the humidity changes.
• Composites are low maintenance – In an application such as a
residential deck, this is critical. Composite decks can be cleaned with
soap and water, while wood decks need to be regularly power
washed, inspected for rot, sanded and stained.
• Composites are easy to transport and install – Because they are
lightweight, composites are an ideal replacement for wood in
applications such as utility poles: They cost less to transport and are
simpler to install in remote locations than their wooden counterparts.
• Composites are resistant to pests – Termites, carpenter ants, beetles
and other pests eat away at wood, causing extensive damage.
Composites are pest-free, making them ideal for everything from
window frames to retaining walls.

Composites vs. Granite

2 Ar K.Manikandan
Professor
Today’s composites – sometimes called solid surface materials or cast
polymer – offer consumers a host of benefits:

• Composites are non-porous – This makes them much more sanitary

than granite, which can conceal bits of food and bacteria in its
crevices.
• Composites are easy to maintain – They do not require sealants or
special cleaning products. Because granite is porous, it must be sealed
annually to prevent staining. And cleaning products such as
degreasers and glass cleaners strip the sealant.
• Composites offer endless appearance options – They can be easily
formed into any shape and customized into any color, making
composites a preferred choice for homeowners who want distinctive
counters, shower surrounds, bathtubs and more. Granite must be
carefully selected, matched and cut and is available in a limited
number of colors.
• Composites are heat resistant – Composites retain their integrity when
exposed to high temperatures. Conversely, granite surfaces can’t
absorb heat, so they can chip if hot pans are placed on them.

3 Ar K.Manikandan
Professor