Thermoplastic composites — recyclable and fast to process

The use of thermoplastics as a matrix material in fibre reinforced composites has been growing steadily, especially in automotive and aerospace applications, largely due to the materials' recyclability and ability to be processed rapidly. They also offer improved fracture toughness over thermosets as well as the ability to be easily joined using welding techniques. Richard Stewart reports on recent developments and new applications of thermoplastic composites.