exhibit excessive grain growth or oxidize, resulting in deficiencies such as low modulus or strength properties, excessive creep rates, thermal expansion mismatch, or reaction with matrices. Other potential applications for high-performance fibers include applications such as electronic or weapons systems, where the ability to match the thermal expansion coefficients of adjacent components and to dissipate heat is critical. This may be the major future market for pitch-based carbon fibers, which can develop a thermal conductivity that is at least three times greater than copper. The application of these fibers to dissipate heat could revolutionize both the size and operating speed of computer and electronic systems.

In all these projected areas for high-performance fiber development, it is critical that support be continuous and that the longer time required to develop these fibers for composite applications be recognized. Unfortunately, development of new fibers with promising properties is costly. Thus, federal funding may be necessary both to ensure a domestic source for these fibers and to support the research and development needed to improve manufacturability and reduce costs. When this is the case, it is especially important for the government sponsor and the funded development group to establish a relationship based on cooperation, rather than on strict oversight, to accelerate fiber development and minimize management costs.

Present performance-driven applications provide the opportunity and the need to develop a strong domestic technology base in the high-performance fibers required for composite materials. Future high-volume markets such as automotive and construction applications will be cost-driven, and it is vital that the domestic fiber industry be prepared to aggressively compete in these markets. It is this potential for tremendous future growth, coupled with the fact that high-performance fibers are citical for many present high-technology products, that makes basic fiber research and the health of our domestic fiber industry vital to both the U.S. economy and our national security.

Because the composites industry is highly international, extensive fiber science/technology bases also exist in Western Europe and Japan, where there are strong commitments to support the development of high-performance fibers. Unless steps are taken to strengthen our domestic fiber science/technology base, to facilitate its industrial application, and to broaden the industrial base for high-performance fibers, the United States might lose its present competitive position in this key industry.

1. "Guide to Selected Engineering Materials," special issue of Advanced Materials and Processes, 2(1), 1987.

2. Reinhart, Theodore J., "Introduction to Composites," Composites, Engineered Materials Handbook, 1, ASM INTERNATIONAL Metals Park, Ohio, pp. 27-39, 1987.

Front Matter (R1-R16)

Executive Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations (1-8)

1 High-Performance Synthetic Fibers for Composites (9-20)

2 High-Performance Fiber Materials: Applications, Needs, and Opportunities (21-48)

3 Fiber-Forming Processes: Current and Potential Methods (49-102)

4 Important Issues in Fiber Science/Technology (103-108)

5 Important Policy Issues (109-118)

Glossary of Terms (119-126)

Appendix (127-129)