Polymer fibres future trends

Schiraldi, D. A., Future trends in polyester polymers, in Proceedings of the Fibres to Finished Fabrics Conference, Prestburg, Manchester, UK, December 7-8, 1999, The Textile Institute, Manchester, UK, 1999. 

This chapter and Chapter 17 review advanced polymer composites in bridge engineering and cover many aspects for the utilisation of this material within bridge engineering infrastructure. It is suggested that the reader refers to Section 17.6 of Chapter 17 which covers the future trends of fibre-reinforced polymer composites used in all types of bridge engineering. 

Abstract This chapter will introduce advances in properties, production and manufacturing techniques of the advanced polymer/fibre composite materials that are utilised in the manufacture of machines that produce sustainable energy. Chapter 19 discussed the various methods of transferring wind, tidal, wave and solar energies into electrical power and this chapter will show how advanced composites are utilised in these various machines. Furthermore, it will suggest methods for the repair, maintenance and recycling of advanced polymer composite wind turbine blades. Finally, the future trends of sustainable energy systems and the role that polymers and polymer/fibre composites will have in their manufacture/fabrication will be evaluated. 

Polymers, after their combination with fibres to form special composites produces some materials with enhanced properties, enabling them to be used as structural members and units, competing with metals. The use of polymeric fibres in concrete to replace steel frame (as composite rebars) has many advantages which has been in use for a long time with an ever increasing trend in use, if the material costs involved are decreased in the future, as expected. However, proper materials characterisation in addition to development of new standard test methods still appear to be the immediate needs to be fulfilled in the near future. 

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