Fiber-reinforced composites find wide use in automotive applications (various structures including body and interiors), marine applications (hulls and decks), construction (e.g., bridge decks, building panels) and consumer applications (e.g., sporting goods, furniture). Their attractiveness often centers on their excellent strength-to-weight and stiffness-to-weight ratios. Fiberglass is the most widely used reinforcement for composites today and accounts for about 90% of fiber usage. Carbon fiber is widely used in aerospace applications and accounts for about 6% of fiber usage. Aramid and other fibers make up the remainder. Natural fibers such as jute, kenaf, flax, and hemp represent a major potential source of composite reinforcing fiber for the future, although they are just starting to enter the composites markets.
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