Thermoset composite use spans multiple industries in both commercial/industrial and residential applications. When looking at engineering applications for thermosets, Martin Starkey, director of Gurit Automotive said it best at a recent Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition (ACCE). He pointed out that “given the many forms of resins and reinforcements, composites are ‘infinitely tailorable for any application,’ but deciding on the right mix and the right process, given that huge range of possibilities, can be a challenge.” Common applications that utilize thermosets include; aerospace and automotive, commercial and residential construction, and appliance and electrical.
1. Aerospace and Automotive
Regulation and competition both play a role in thermoset composite use in auto and aerospace. The need for emission reduction combined with the demand for more efficient and comfortable vehicles and planes has thermoset composites participating in more ways today than ever.
In automotive, glass-reinforced polyester thermoset composites are used for body panels, seats, and interior components. Carbon fiber composites are used in higher-end vehicles for wheels and under-the-hood components.
In aerospace, thermoset composites are used for interior components, and, according to Dale Brosius, the chief commercialization officer for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), “composites for wind turbine blades are almost exclusively thermoset, as are the major structures in the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. To date, carbon fiber-intensive automotive structures, from Italian supercars to the BMW i3, feature thermoset matrices.”
Other uses for epoxy/carbon fiber composites include sports equipment like archery equipment, tennis-racquets, golf-clubs, and ski equipment.
2. Commercial and Residential Construction
Polyester and epoxy thermoset composites are readily used throughout both commercial and residential construction. Most commonly, forms are used in kitchens and bathrooms for sinks, shower stalls, and tub surrounds, but span a wide range of applications including; fixtures, doors, wall panels, roofing, window frames, molding, and even swimming pools.
3. Appliance and Electrical
In the appliance industry, polyester and epoxy thermoset composites can be found in many major appliances including; Dishwashers, Refrigerators, washers, dryers, and small kitchen appliances. Next time you turn on your oven or gas range, notice the handle, vent trim, control panel, and knobs. These are parts we see, touch, and feel every day. They are all made from or include thermoset composites.
In the electrical industry, phenolic-matrix and melamine composites are used in printed-circuit boards, gears, and in insulators and other components for electrical equipment. Insulation, circuit boards, and components requiring a high resistance to heat will often be made from a silicone-based composite.
With strong dielectric properties including arc and track resistance, thermoset components include substation equipment, microwave antennas, standoffs and pole line hardware and printed wiring boards. Applications and components include switchgear, motor controls, standoff insulators, control system components, circuit breakers, arc chutes, arc shields, terminal blocks, terminal boards, metering devices, bus supports and lighting components.
While these applications are common, they are far from comprehensive. Thermoset composites can be found in agriculture, marine, HVAC, and plumbing just to name a few.
For more information on thermoset composites and their applications, schedule a discovery call with one of our engineers.
