<P> Carbon composite is a key material in today's launch vehicles and heat shields for the re-entry phase of spacecraft . It is widely used in solar panel substrates, antenna reflectors and yokes of spacecraft . It is also used in payload adapters, inter-stage structures and heat shields of launch vehicles . Furthermore, disk brake systems of airplanes and racing cars are using carbon / carbon material, and the composite material with carbon fibres and silicon carbide matrix has been introduced in luxury vehicles and sports cars . </P> <P> In 2006, a fibre - reinforced composite pool panel was introduced for in - ground swimming pools, residential as well as commercial, as a non-corrosive alternative to galvanized steel . </P> <P> In 2007, an all - composite military Humvee was introduced by TPI Composites Inc and Armor Holdings Inc, the first all - composite military vehicle . By using composites the vehicle is lighter, allowing higher payloads . In 2008, carbon fibre and DuPont Kevlar (five times stronger than steel) were combined with enhanced thermoset resins to make military transit cases by ECS Composites creating 30 - percent lighter cases with high strength . </P> <P> Pipes and fittings for various purpose like transportation of potable water, fire - fighting, irrigation, seawater, desalinated water, chemical and industrial waste, and sewage are now manufactured in glass reinforced plastics . </P>

What are the different types of composite materials