Aerospace Composites And Alloys

On the Earth’s surface, life is fairly orderly in terms of human understanding of the elements, but in space, temperature fluctuations, radiation and chemical interactions can all have a great effect on the resilience of materials used in the construction of spacecraft.

In addition to environmental factors in choosing spacecraft materials, factors like weight, mass, gravity and energy usage must also be considered. Much like conventional aircraft, spacefaring vehicles must maintain a weight balance in order to safely achieve lift and maintain flight.

While orbiting, the mass of a spacecraft can affect its ability to use thrust and maintain a navigational vector. Because weight and mass are often correlated in design, both factors must be included in material choice for spacecraft.

Why Use Composites In Aerospace Manufacturing?

To address the aforementioned challenges, composite materials are often used when constructing aerospace vehicles. Aerospace composites have a number of advantages over traditional aerospace alloys, but these advantages range in value depending on the type of craft and its mission.

A composite aircraft in space is often lighter due to materials being constructed from things like plastics and carbon fiber. These materials create aircraft composites that are both lightweight, incredibly durable and resistant to the effects of extreme temperatures.

Composite materials in aerospace design may also incorporate a monocoque singe-shell molding that further alleviates environmental stressors. magoda