COMPOSITE TUBES, MOSTLY OF CARBON BUT ALSO CONTAINING GLASS AND ARAMID FIBERS, OFFER STIFFNESS, STRENGTH, AND DRAMATICALLY LIGHTER WEIGHT COMPARED TO WOOD, BAMBOO, STEEL, AND ALUMINUM TUBES WHICH THEY REPLACED. BECAUSE LIGHTER WEIGHT TRANSLATES TO SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE IN MANY OF THESE APPLICATIONS, SEVERAL PROCESSES WHICH ALLOW LIGHTER THERMOPLASTIC RESINS TO REPLACE EPOXIES ARE BEING DEVELOPED.
