Cost-Property Index for Comparing Load Bearing Materials

Advanced composites are now vying with well-established metals, glass, and ceramics in load bearing applications. The economic success of these composites depends upon the cost-property index, B/P where B is the price per pound of the composite and P is the specific property of the composite critical to the load bearing ap plication. Until this index approaches those for commonly-used materials, advanced composites will be utilized only in applications where there is a premium for light weight, such as transportation.