Marine Applications of Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Matrix Composites

Abstract

Composite materials are formed by bringing together two or more materials that are insoluble in each other at a macro level. Composites consist of two main elements such as reinforcement (the carrier) and matrix (the binder). These materials are generally classified according to matrix and reinforcement elements. In the classification made according to the matrix element, polymer, metal, and ceramic matrix composites are examined. In this classification, polymer matrix composites are widely used in practice. A polymer matrix from the thermoset or thermoplastic group is reinforced with various types of continuous or short fibers. Composites belonging to this group are widely used in basic sectors such as automotive, aviation, and marine. Especially in the marine sector, polymer matrix composites are used in the construction of marine vehicles (ships, boats, yachts, etc.) and equipment. Marine systems and structures include the hull and shipbuilding industries (ship and submarine masts, propellers, and interior parts), the offshore applications industry (gas pipelines, tendons, and support structures), and the renewable energy sector (turbine devices and rotor blades). The importance of lightweight design is increasing day by day in vehicles used in land, air, and sea transportation. Today, the increase in the value of both safety and energy savings causes research on composite materials to intensify in the marine sector. It is advantageous to use composite materials in many parts so that negative environmental effects such as corrosion, biological pollution, seawater aging, and hydrostatic pressure cause minimal damage to marine structures. With the developments in composite science, the level of use of these materials is increasing in the marine sector, as in every other field. This review presents an overview of the use of polymer matrix composites in the marine industry.