Resin matrix composites are fiber reinforced materials based on organic polymers, typically using organic fibers such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, or aramid. Resin matrix composites have unique advantages such as high specific strength and stiffness, designability, fatigue fracture resistance, corrosion resistance, structural dimensional stability and convenience of large-area forming, fully reflecting the characteristics of combining structural load-bearing and function.

Resin matrix composite is a solid product composed of two or more independent physical phases, including matrix (resin) and reinforcement.

Resin matrix composites have the following characteristics:

1) Anisotropy (short fiber composites show isotropy);

2) Heterogeneity (or discontinuity in the texture of structural organization);

3) Viscoelasticity;

4) The physical properties of materials vary depending on the volume content of fibers (or resins);

5) Many factors affect quality and the properties are often dispersed.

Resin matrix composites include thermoplastic resin matrix composites and thermosetting resin matrix composites. Thermoplastic resin matrix composites were developed in the 1980s, mainly including long fiber reinforced pellets (LFP), continuous fiber reinforced prepreg (MITT), and glass fiber felt reinforced thermoplastic composites (GMT). According to different usage requirements, the resin matrix mainly includes thermoplastic engineering plastics such as PP, PE, PA, PBT, PEI, PC, PES, PEEK, PI, PAI, etc. The fiber types include glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber, boron fiber and other possible fibers.

At present, the glass fibers used for high-performance composites mainly include high-strength glass fibers, quartz glass fibers, and high silica glass fibers. High-strength glass fiber composites are not only used in military, but also widely used in civil products in recent years, such as bulletproof helmets, bulletproof suits, helicopter wings, early warning radar covers, various high pressure vessels, straight plates in civil aircraft , sports equipment, various high-temperature resistant products and high-performance tire cords which are reported recently. Quartz glass fiber and high silica glass fiber belong to high-temperature resistant glass fibers and are ideal heat-resistant and fire-resistant materials. By reinforcing phenolic resin with them, various high-temperature and ablation resistant composite components can be made, which are widely used as heat-resistant materials for rockets and missiles.

Carbon fiber has a series of properties such as high strength, high modulus, high temperature resistance and conductivity. It has been widely used in aerospace and also in sports equipment and sports goods in recent years.

Aramid fibers have high specific strength and modulus, making them widely used in high-performance composite components in aerospace industry (such as rocket engine casings, aircraft engine compartments, fairings, rudder, etc.), ships (such as aircraft carriers, nuclear submarines, yachts, lifeboats, etc.), automobiles (such as tire cords, high-pressure hoses, friction materials, high-pressure gas cylinders, etc.); heat-resistant transport belts; sports equipment, etc.

The specific strength of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber ranks first among all kinds of fibers, especially it has excellent chemical resistance and aging resistance. It also has excellent high-frequency sonar permeability and seawater corrosion resistance. It has been used to manufacture high-frequency sonar fairings for ships in many countries, greatly improving their capabilities of mine detection and sweeping. In addition to military applications, UHMWPE fiber also has broad application prospects in fields such as automobile manufacturing, ship manufacturing, medical equipment and sports equipment. The fiber has aroused great interest and attention from developed countries around the world since its inception.

The molding processes of resin matrix composites mainly include low-temperature curing, resin transfer molding (RTM) , automatic winding and laying, and electron beam curing.

Since the 1960s, resin matrix composites have been increasingly widely used in aviation, weapons and equipment, automobiles, marine industry and other fields. Resin matrix composites have developed into basic materials for aerospace structures due to their high specific strength, high specific modulus, high heat resistance, corrosion resistance, fatigue resistance, good damping and shock absorption, good damage safety, and designable performance.