Defense Industry Thermoset Composites

Defense Industry

The defense industry researches, designs and produces military weapons systems, components, and parts. In the U.S., over 100,000 Defense Industrial Base companies are under contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), as well as companies that provide materials and services to the DoD and government-owned or -operated facilities.

Altas Fibre provides thermoset composite laminate shapes and parts to the defense industry. We’ll work with your defense organization to help you choose radio-transparent, radar-transparent, and insulation materials that best meet your needs.

Benefits of Composites in Defense Applications

There are multiple uses of composites in military and defense applications, which typically create demanding, high-impact environments. The thermoset composite materials’ properties are set through a high-pressure and high-temperature lamination process, which provides several benefits for the defense industry:

Corrosion resistance: Exposure to oxygen causes corrosion, the gradual destruction of materials. Metal often corrodes and weakens with time, but thermoset composites resist corrosion. Due to the impervious nature of the resins and substrates used, thermoset composites are impermeable to the most common solvents and environments leading to a high resistance to corrosion and a long service life compared to conventional materials.
Fatigue resistance: Many types of metals develop microfractures after repeated bending, weakening the material. Thermoset composites do not experience microfractures, making them less likely to break.
Strength: Composite materials have a high strength-to-weight ratio, allowing them to serve as the structural base for defense vehicles. For example, G10, a type of glass epoxy composite, has a tensile strength-to-weight ratio almost double that of aluminum.

Insulation: Composites provide electrical and thermal insulation, protecting defense equipment from electrical currents and high heat. G10 and FR4 don’t conduct heat or electricity well, so they are superior insulators.
Temperature tolerance: Defense vehicles and arms are exposed to extreme heat and cold. Thermoset composites can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
Flexibility: You have many options when you need composite materials for defense applications. Atlas Fibre creates materials and parts based on our customers’ specific needs.
Weight: Thermoset composites weigh less than metal, which helps them use less fuel and produce fewer emissions. Their light weight makes them more cost-effective.

Types of Composites for the Defense Industry

The defense industry can use thermoset composites in many applications, including:

Controls
Engines
Fighter jets
Missiles
Blades and propellers
Braking systems
Instrument enclosures
Seats
Ballistics
Naval vessels
Ring seals
Nozzles
Wall and floor structures
Window frames

Custom and In-Stock Materials for the Defense Industry

Atlas Fibre is the leading supplier of thermoset composite laminate in the U.S., thanks to our large selection of in-stock materials. Our 120,000-square-foot warehouse in Illinois has more than $8 million worth of inventory. We also hold an additional $4 million of raw materials at partner facilities in Massachusetts and Hyderabad, India.

We use machine-ready precision blanks to custom-fabricate parts to your specifications. As a resource center, we aim to work with you and help you choose the best material. Work with us to determine which material will provide your defense vehicles with the best weight reduction, corrosion resistance, and flexibility.