Polymers, Composites, and Aerospace in 2030: Inventing the Stuff That Makes the Future

Over a hundred years ago, the pioneers of aviation took flight in no small part due to polymeric innovations. Unquestionably, the future of aerospace will look as different as the Wright Flyer and Curtiss June Bug does from the F35 and today's unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The fundamental role of polymers and composites will remain unchanged though – they will be a crucial ingredient that enables these future machines to push the performance envelope. However, the demands will far surpass those required from today's structures, canopies, coatings, and optoelectronic subsystems. Crucial to this success will be asking "how do we optimize multifunctionality and manufacturability while forecasting the service life of an adaptive and responsive system of materials that includes polymers". Current research at the Air Force Research Laboratory will be used to discuss these challenges and highlight how digital technologies are being used to accelerate discovery, development, and deployment.