Composites in the Sporting Goods Industry

Abstract

In 1990 Frost & Sullivan reported that over $800 million dollars were spent by domestic defense/aerospace contractors for advanced composites. In the same period, $70 million worth of advanced composites were purchased from domestic producers for sporting goods. Advanced composites are usually denned as those composites that use either carbon, aramid, S-glass, ceramic, polyethylene, boron, or other high strength or high stiffness fiber. In 1991, the total worldwide consumption of advanced fibers was estimated to be 27200 metric tons1. Approximately 10% of this fiber went into sport and recreation applications. Worldwide sport and recreation applications are the third largest user of advanced composites behind defense/aerospace and elastomer reinforcement (tires, hose and belts)1. In the USA as well, sport and recreation applications are the third largest users of advanced composites. One of the major growth markets for advanced composites over the past several years has been the sporting goods industry. Although there was a total decline in USA defense spending of only 14% from 1990 to 1994, the procurement decline was 45%2 (Fig. 49.1). The defense procurement decline was disastrous for the composites industry and resulted in severe upheavals. Although no segment of the composites market could offset the defense-induced decline, the sporting goods/recreation composite segment along with most other segments is predicted to show positive growth in the near future3 (Table 49.1). This growth trend is expected to continue into the 21st century. Advances in materials and processes have reduced consumer prices for the recreational composite while providing improved performance for the athlete.