Development of New Structural Materials: Recent research has resulted in the development of new materials with a significant increase in specific strength and specific stiffness

THE mechanical properties of structural materials are ultimately set by the type of atoms forming the solid and the nature of the forces between them. If we want to produce materials having superior mechanical properties to those currently available with metal alloys we have to consider using materials formed from light atoms having strong bonding forces between them. Such substances are ceramics and, as normally encountered, are weak and brittle. Research has been aimed at the production of such materials in the form of strong fibres and on the use of such fibres to reinforce a matrix as glass fibres are used to reinforce plastics.