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Could China’s metal-like composite make drones, planes and rockets 26% stronger?

Challenging six decades of convention, Chinese scientists have proposed a new composite material manufacturing method that could improve the strength and reliability of structures used…

By Samantha Johnson / April 3, 2026
Challenging six decades of convention, Chinese scientists have proposed a new composite material manufacturing method that could improve the strength and reliability of structures used in drones, aircraft and spacecraft.

By introducing an advance in the so-called balanced lay-up approach – a method of stacking fibre layers symmetrically and in opposing angles to minimise internal stresses – the research team reported strength gains of up to 26 per cent.

It also led to a 13 per cent improvement in joint performance, while reducing curing deformation during the manufacturing process that could result in defects.

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The advance could broaden design flexibility across aerospace applications, as lower curing deformation means fewer distortions during production, according to a statement on March 9 from the Institute of Mechanics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Greater design flexibility would be especially beneficial for high-precision components such as fuselages, wings and load-bearing panels, it added.

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