4. Conclusion

Today, composite materials are used to such an extent that it would no longer be possible to do without this family of materials for aeronautical applications. Their introduction has been facilitated over the last twenty years by a steady, substantial reduction in the cost of basic materials. In the 1970s, conventional high-strength carbon fibers were offered at prices of the order of €300/kg, whereas in the 2000s, this same type of aerospace-grade fiber is offered at prices of the order of €30/kg. For non-aeronautical carbon fibers with similar properties, the price is even around €15/kg. Advances in manufacturing processes have also helped to reduce costs, notably with the introduction of automatic processing equipment such as draping machines, winding machines and fiber placement machines. The introduction of manufacturing methods based on resin injection or infiltration into fibrous...