Composite materials are engineered by fusing different materials, typically consisting of a matrix (a polymer, metal, or ceramic) and a reinforcement (such as fibers, particles, or flakes) that ...

This schematic shows an engineered material with composite layers. Layers of carbon fibers (the long silver tubes) have microscopic forests of carbon nanotubes between them (the array of tiny brown ...

A new multifunctional composite made of carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP) and piezoelectric materials can use vibrations to self-detect tiny cracks. This material could be used in the aerospace, ...

In order to detect defects in the surfaces of dry fabric and composite prepreg, this new vision-based tactile sensor roller prototype, TacRoller, is a three-colour reflective membrane roller-shape ...

In an approach they call 'nanostitching,' engineers used carbon nanotubes to prevent cracking in multilayered composites. The advance could lead to next-generation airplanes and spacecraft. To save on ...