Usage of composite materials is ubiquitous in the modern world. While global tonnages are still well below those of steel, they now find a wider range of applications and their value is starting to become comparable to that of steel products. As low weight and energy efficiency become increasingly important, this trend is likely to accelerate. In this chapter, the objective is to identify some of the issues involved in commercial exploitation of composites. This is done by means of case studies drawn from various industrial sectors. The examples cover a range of composite type, engineering complexity, manufacturing route, market size and competitive position relative to more traditional materials.
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