Manufacturers in many industries like to build with composites because they are lightweight and have high strength-to-weight ratios that often exceed steel and aluminum. At the same time, though, these materials can be hard to properly bond to thermoplastic, metal and other composites.
Workers at Ferretti S.p.A.’s Ancona, Italy, shipyard regularly deal with the challenge of bonding composite parts while assembling large and mega luxury motor yachts. These parts are fabricated offsite and include fiberglass hull shells and load-bearing components in the engine room.