50 years of innovation in composites

From hockey sticks to jetliners, composite innovations developed at the University of Delaware's Center for Composite Materials (CCM) have shaped how people play, build and travel.

For five decades, CCM has been a global leader in researching composites, advanced materials that combine two or more constituents with distinct properties. Engineered for strength, stiffness or other characteristics, composites have become essential to modern life, appearing in products ranging from sports gear to spacecraft.

As industries evolve, CCM continues to pioneer materials and manufacturing methods that will shape the future of mobility, energy science and defense.

CCM recently marked its 50th anniversary by hosting the 24th International Conference on Composite Materials (ICCM24), which showcased fresh advances in composite research and provided an opportunity to reflect on the center's storied history.

Emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach

Established in 1974 by four faculty members from diverse academic backgrounds, CCM has fostered an interdisciplinary approach from the start. Today, with nearly 54,000 square feet of state-of-the-art facilities, the center pursues a three-part mission: conducting basic and applied research, educating scientists and engineers and transitioning technology to industry.

"There is no other institution in the United States with our breadth and depth of capability in composites, manufacturing science and materials development," said Srikanth Pilla, director of CCM and professor of mechanical engineering. "Our research advances have led to innovations that are changing the ways we work, live and travel."