8. Read the article “Advanced Composites” and fill in the gaps with the words from the box.

aircraft; advanced; equipment; resin; predominant; materials; reinforcement; aerospace; composite; high-performance; polymer

Advanced Composites

The Advanced _______ matrix composites industry, or Advanced _______ materials industry, is characterized by the use of expensive, high-performance ________ systems and high-strength, high-stiffness fiber __________. The aerospace industry, including military and commercial aircraft of all types, is the major customer for ________ composites. These materials have also been adopted for use by the sporting goods suppliers who sell high-performance _________ to the golf, tennis, fishing, and archery markets; as well as in the swimming pool industry with Composite wall structures.

While ________ is the predominant market for advanced composites today, the industrial and automotive markets will increasingly see the use of advanced composites toward the year 2000. At present, both manual and automated processes are employed in making advanced-composite parts. As automated processes become more __________, the costs of advanced composites are expected to decline to the point at which these materials will be used widely in electronic, machinery, and surface transportation equipment.

Suppliers of advanced composite __________ tend to be larger companies capable of doing the research and development necessary to provide the ________________ resin systems used in this segment of the industry. End-users also tend to be large, and many are in the ____________ and aerospace businesses.

9. Read the texts about Future Composite Materials and answer the questions to each text. Group a reads text 1, Group b reads text 2. Group a and group b ask questions to each other’s texts.

Text 1 (Student A)

Ceramic Matrix Composites

Major efforts are underway to develop light-weight, high-temperature composite materials at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for use in aircraft parts. Temperatures as high as 1650°C are anticipated for the turbine inlets of a conceptual engine based on preliminary calculations. In order for materials to withstand such temperatures, the use of Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) is required. The use of CMCs in advanced engines will also allow an increase in the temperature at which the engine can be operated, leading to increased yield. Although CMCs are promising structural materials, their applications are limited due to lack of suitable reinforcement materials, processing difficulties, lifetime and cost.

Hybrid Composite Steel Sheets

Another promising material can be stainless steel constructed with inspiration from composites and nanontech-fibres and plywood. The sheets of steel are made of same material and are able to handle and tool exactly the same way as conventional steel. But is some percent lighter for the same strengths. This is especially valuable for vehicle manufacturing. Patent pending, Swedish company Lamera is a spinoff from research within Volvo Industries.

Text 2 (Student B)