Advanced Materials for Sports Equipment

Practically all sports have benefitted in some crucial way from the introduction of synthetic materials. This book aims to provide a readable introduction to these new materials. The design, construction and production of sports equipment today is based on a number of considerations. The three most important of these are improved performance, attractive appearance and freedom and protection from injury. All of these main objectives are achieved by clever design and most important, extremely careful choice of materials. The production of sports equipment is a multi-billion dollar industry, with the result that a great deal of investment on the part of the producers goes into competitive design and production. The most advanced materials available are used in practically all sports equipment, many deriving directly from the aerospace industry, and this includes bicycles, boats, surfboards, canoes, athletics equipment, tennis and squash racquets, skis and others. This book examines the role played by advanced materials in the design, performance, appearance and safety aspects of these various equipments, and gives pointers concerning likely future developments.