What does chemistry have to do with fabric? The answer is more than lab coats! Think about the fabric that makes your shirt. Notice the strings that are woven or knitted together to make the fabric.

The structural properties of composite materials are derived primarily from the fiber reinforcement. In a composite, the fiber, held in place by the matrix resin, contributes tensile strength, ...

Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are made by reinforcing a polymer-based matrix with glass, carbon, or aramid fibers. PMCs are classified into thermosetting and thermoplastic resins based on the type ...

This graphic shows an unconventional approach to making widely used composite materials stronger and tougher. Thermoplastic fibers are deposited like cobwebs on top of rigid fibers to chemically form ...

A team led by Pei-Yi Wu and Sheng-Tong Sun at Donghua University reported a strong hydrogel fiber material with water-induced ...

A quarter-century ago, the Department of Energy began a program to support U.S. development of ceramic matrix composites. In 2016 a new aircraft engine became the first widely deployed CMC-containing ...

Carbon fiber is known for being incredibly strong, lightweight, and versatile—but how is it actually made? This article breaks down the key stages of carbon fiber manufacturing and shows how different ...