| One future problem, which has not sufficiently been | | | | when it burns. What happens when a lightweight high |
| addressed, is that of the fumes and smoke created | | | | performance 7E7 runs off the end of a runway and |
| when composite material burns. Composite material is | | | | catches fire? What happens when a pipeline ruptures? |
| a truly great human achievement in material science, | | | | Sure there will be less likelihood of sparks with such |
| however as we use this material in more and more | | | | material but what do you do when there is? For |
| places we need to be acutely aware of the risks and | | | | instance landing gear hitting a fence and jet fuel leaking |
| potential consequences of their use. One risk is that | | | | on hot engines? Will the passengers be safe once the |
| many types of composite give of poison ness | | | | fire starts emitting poison gasses? What about a |
| gaseous compounds such as cyanide gas. Not all | | | | pipeline made of composite material, which ruptures |
| composite materials will do this, but some do. | | | | from an attack my International Terrorists? What |
| Composite material has been a godsend for | | | | about an auto accident with another car or truck with |
| aerospace as the material is light and very strong. | | | | a steel bumper providing the sparks or a battery lead |
| Boeing announced it's forward-looking hope to sell 200 | | | | meeting up with fuel line rupture? Cars in accidents do |
| of the 7E7 aircraft in calendar year 2005. Already in | | | | not usually burn to the ground, but it does happen. Any |
| December of 2004 Japan Airlines gave its | | | | attempt to rescue victims could result in death by |
| commitment to order 50 Boeing 7E7 aircraft. Boeing | | | | cyanide gas, first responders will need to suit up prior |
| has recently received a commitment from Continental | | | | to rescue adding to the critical time period to save the |
| Airlines as well for billions of dollars worth of aircraft | | | | occupants. No one knows this better than US Military |
| purchases between now and 2009 to lock in a special | | | | Airport firefighters who are trained for such things. The |
| price. The 7E7 is a little over half composite and is the | | | | military has learned the hard way that new composite |
| first passenger airliner to contain this much composite | | | | materials although with all their advantages also have |
| material. Boeing thru economies of scale is determining | | | | some severe and potentially fatal characteristics as |
| ways for robots to build the composite material to | | | | well? Ships with composite have incredible advantages |
| reduce costs in labor and to eliminate human error | | | | to service life and maintenance costs, but a fire |
| while standardizing perfect flawless manufacturing of | | | | aboard would be difficult to fight and if out of control |
| less than one, one thousandth of an inch variance. This | | | | could be lethal to all aboard. |
| will allow a rivet free aircraft, save thousands of | | | | We need to study how to use material sciences to |
| pounds and an unmatched smooth skin for absolute | | | | prevent the toxins produced by burning composite. A |
| advantage in laminar airflows and reduction of parasite | | | | solution needs to be available which can be mixed in |
| drag. Such precision has never up until now been | | | | with the material during manufacturing and a coating |
| achieved. | | | | applied in the hardening process along with special |
| Composite material has also been used in pipelines due | | | | after post manufacturing ceramic coats of |
| to its ability to go from hot to cold without the huge | | | | approximately 1-4 Mils in thickness for items which |
| expansion and compression that exists with metallic | | | | need to consider weight as a primary objective and |
| pipes. With proper UV protective coatings it is the | | | | 10-12 Mils in thickness for such things like automobiles, |
| perfect material for such things. Boat hulls and ships | | | | railings, decks, ship interiors, etc. For things such as |
| with composite parts also can be great pluses and not | | | | railcars and pipelines where weight is fairly insignificant I |
| have corrosion problems that occurs in salt water. Ship | | | | propose 10-20 Mils of ceramic coating on all sides of |
| companies with composite component ships will find | | | | the material, interior and exterior of surfaces. By doing |
| that their maintenance costs are reduced for corrosion | | | | this we can prevent unintended consequences when |
| control and the ships life will be increased. Metal fatigue | | | | we are struck by Mother Nature, Murphy, dumb luck or |
| will no longer be an issue either. Automobiles built with | | | | even International Terrorists nuisances. Funding should |
| composite will be stronger and lighter, thus safer, longer | | | | be provided to Universities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, |
| lasting, more durable, better performance and better | | | | California, Virginia, Georgia and Texas, which currently |
| gas mileage. Bridges, structures, towers, antennas and | | | | have material science degrees available so we can |
| buildings are all good uses of composite materials and | | | | stay leading edge and cover all the bases. This |
| often favored in the modern period. Skateboards, | | | | research should be funded by the DOE, DARPA and |
| sporting equipment, mars rovers, street signs and flag | | | | DOT, we must accelerate this sector now to keep up |
| poles can all benefit from the material characteristics | | | | with the advances and needs we will see in the next |
| of composite. Composite can also be manufactured | | | | five years. We must look at manufacturing, coatings, |
| on robotic assembly lines. Composite comes without | | | | composite useful life and all possible variations of |
| the high costs of mining iron ore or precious metals. | | | | composite material. I propose this be done to take us |
| Composite is an excellent material and makes a lot of | | | | to the next step while insuring; |
| sense really, but what about its other characteristics | | | | "Strength and Safety now and forever. |