Potential fabric-reinforced composites: a comprehensive review

Composite materials acquire increased mechanical strength in the reinforcing phase. The ultimate composite products are stronger, stiffer, and harder than the matrix. Recently, fabrics have received increasing attention when compared to other reinforcement materials like particles, fibers, and so on. Although the fibers are applied for three-dimensional (3D) or two-dimensional (2D) structures [1, 2], the architectures are also used through textile fabric (such as woven, nonwoven, knitted, and braided) [3‐9]. In 3D fabrics, the fibers are intermeshed lengthwise, thickness-wise, and crosswise, while 2D woven fabrics are made of two sets of yarn (one is lengthwise 0° and the other is crosswise in a 90° direction) through conventional weaving technology. Nevertheless, the low fatigue and stiffness resistance characteristics of 2D fabric when applied to shear stress make them a challenge to use. In addition, composites made of 2D structures are weaker and tensed to delaminations. However, 3D fabrics enhance the thermal stability and mechanical performances in the composites as well as reduce the delamination for the fibers present in perpendicular directions. The design of the fabrics could be tuned during the manufacturing stages to increase the ultimate performances from the final composite products according to the requirements.

Textile fabrics possess notable potentiality for composites used in automobiles, construction, furniture, and buildings. Both natural and synthetic fiber-based fabrics are used in composite production. Natural fibers include hemp, ramie, flax, jute, sisal, cotton, agave, and so on [10‐13], whereas synthetic fibers are carbon, glass, nylon, polyester, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, and so on [14‐20]. However, composites made from natural fiber-based fabrics are becoming increasing popular due to their environmental sustainability. Conversely, synthetic fabric-based composites are also used extensively for their low cost and ease of production. Most aerospace, marine, and automotive companies currently use synthetic fiber-based composites [21, 22]. Fiber properties, fabric structure, the number of fabric layers, and areal density all play significant roles in composite performance. Furthermore, together with enhanced mechanical properties, different polymeric material/nanoparticle loading also plays a notable role in providing composite materials with different functionalities like antibacterial properties and UV-resistance. Generally, different thermoplastic, thermosetting, and cementitious materials are used for developing laminated fabric-based composite panels [23‐27]. The use of polymeric matrix in laminated composite depends on the necessities as some polymers are suitable for better mechanical properties generation, while others are better for water absorbency and thermal conductivity. The classifications of different fabrics and the associated structures used as the reinforcement of composite materials are shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively.

Fabrics possess excellent drapability around any device or tool; this can be further facilitated with a suitable tool shape and fabric surface [30]. Various processing methods, such as compression forming, roll forming, diaphragm forming, molding, and machining, are applied for the formation of fabric-reinforced composites. Previously, researchers were involved with unidirectional fabric composites developments [31‐33]. However, following this, researchers began to investigate discontinuous unidirectional fabric composites [34, 35]. Woven fabrics were considered as potential composite material, but the usage of knitted fabrics also became popular in later periods. However, polymeric material used with the fabric reinforcement indicates numerous potentialities for high-performance composite materials. Researchers are currently examining numerical simulation software to predict material properties, which could facilitate the adequate corrective actions prior to production. This review provides an overview of various woven, nonwoven, and knitted fabric-based composites, polymeric matrices, reinforcement methods, numerical modeling, application areas, and marketing aspects. This work can help facilitate future researchers and industrialists with broad information regarding new and potential routes for laminated composite production.

Textile-reinforced composite materials are not only cheaper and more widely available, they are also increasingly being produced via automated rather than manual methods. In this regard, textile fabrics (Fig. 3), which is pre-formed in terms of weaving, knitting, braiding, stitching, nonwoven, and so on, are being increasingly considered. However, the structure of selected fabrics for reinforcement plays a significant role for achieving the expected performance characteristics from composites. Fabrics with higher twist provide higher strengths than those with lower twists due to efficient distributions of stress [36]. Zhou et al. [20] have conducted an experiment where they studied different structures of carbon-based woven fabrics in terms of plain and twill structure and found that differences in fabric structure at uniaxial directions exert limited influences on the strength and modulus of the composites. The same study further claimed that particular fabric structure also exerts influences on the stress concentrations and crack propagations [20]. In another study, Aghaei et al. [37] mentioned that fabric geometry (woven) plays a vital role in influencing the mechanical performances of the composites. Researchers are also becoming increasingly interested in knitted fabric as another prominent potential reinforcement material for composite development. Chen et al. developed sandwich composite panels with higher tensile strengths (124.28 ± 18.64 MPa for carbon fabric/epoxy/glass knit fabric and 332.36 ± 53.18 MPa for carbon fabric/epoxy/carbon knit fabric) and compressive performances by using weft knitted structured fabrics [38]. Ramakrishna conducted research on wale (lengthwise yarn) and course (crosswise yarns) directions of knitted fabric reinforced with epoxy composites tested in terms of tensile strengths and elastic modulus where the elastic modulus was predicted as per laminated plate theory and cross-over modeling [39]. The same study reported that tensile property is strongly dependent on the fiber content in composite systems whereas the strengths grew by the increased fiber contents [39]. Furthermore, knitted fabric-reinforced composites exhibit higher tensile strengths in wale directions compared to the course direction of fabric [39]. Fiber content could be increased via the following parameters:

Furthermore, preforms (Fig. 4) of fabric-based composites are also important in the design and fabrication. In this regard, Quan et al. [40] modeled multi-directional preforms according to fused filament fabrication methods [41]. Tejyan et al. conducted research on nonwoven fabric of 400 and 600 GSM (g/m²) with resin through implementing a hand-layup technique. The researchers found significant flexural strengths, impact energy, and thermal conductivity [42]. They summarized that composites thermal conductivity decreases as mechanical strengths and associated fabric density increases [42]. Polyethylene terephthalate (80%) and Kevlar (20%) were blended together to form nonwoven fabric and later, as-produced fabrics (two pieces) were interlayered with the needle-punching method by enclosing a carbon fiber [43]. Later, a sandwich composite was produced by using the produced fabrics as bottom and upper layers by interlaying polyurethane foam and spacer fabrics [43]. The produced composites provided 1099.61 N residual stress and 7608.92 N bursting stress [43].

The straight geometry of yarns in the fabric structure is extremely significant in order to achieve the efficient reinforcement effects in polymeric composites. The factors are discussed below:

Woven, nonwoven, and knitted fabrics are widely used to produce composite materials. The composites from different fabrics are discussed below:

The polymeric matrixes are the base chemical reagents for binding laminated fabric materials together. As with other composite materials, fabric-reinforced composites could also be prepared with thermoplastic, thermosetting, and cementitious materials. Recently, bio-based polymers like thermoplastic styrene elastomers, PLA, poly(hydroxy urethane), polyhydroxyalkanoates, and PHBV (poly(3-hudroxybutyrateco-3-hydroxyvalerate)) have drawn attention due to their enhanced sustainability [84‐88]. However, some synthetic polymers like PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), and PVC (poly (vinyl chloride)) are frequently used by manufacturers [86, 89]. Furthermore, thermoset polymers are unsaturated polyester, polyurethane, epoxy, phenolics, MUF (melamine–urea–formaldehyde), and silicone [18, 90‐95]. On the other hand, PP, PE, PVC, PS (polystyrene), and polyamide are some of the examples of thermoplastic polymers [86, 89, 96]. All of these chemicals possess distinct structures and groups, which enable them to function as strong binding agents in composite systems. Furthermore, both thermoset and thermoplastic polymers contain some advantages and disadvantages. Together with lower viscosity, thermoset polymers are suitable to facilitate the composites with better wetting of constituent fibers. Conversely, thermoplastic polymers are easy to post-form and recycle. However, thermoset polymers are brittle in nature. Unlike thermoset polymers, they are not recyclable and post-formable. Furthermore, thermoplastic polymers require a higher temperature than the melting temperature as the melt flow is low. However, thermoset polymeric laminated composites could be processed even at room temperature.

Mechanical and thermal properties of the composites have received special attention in the composite materials sector. However, the prediction of the properties is drawing great interest through the use of various analytical and numerical modeling techniques [97‐108]. A schematic model of laminated composite where Green et al. [109] described different processing steps of woven fabric laminated composites is shown in Fig. 10. The same study [109] also considered textile geometry before predicting the fabric-reinforced composite mechanical properties. However, it is difficult to predict the mechanical performances of fabric-reinforced composite for the complex mechanisms of fibers in the yarn and yarn in the fabrics [110]. Wang et al. conducted a study on braided composite where they also showed the yarn-level delamination in composite systems for sports protection applications [111]. Crack propagation between the matrix and yarn in laminated composite system is shown in Fig. 11. Wang et al. also stated that shear stresses caused crack propagation and associated delaminations [111]. Furthermore, the out-plane and in-plane deformations also exert significant influence on the mechanical deformations of laminated composites [110]. Moreover, the deformation mode is also responsible for determining the ultimate composite performances. FEA has become a prominent software-based technology for predicting the performance of the materials. The software also allows for the implementation of necessary corrective initiatives to achieve expected performances. A failure mechanism against applied loads/stresses as per FEA analysis is illustrated in Fig. 12. The mechanism saves a great deal of time, effort, and workload by providing the prediction of possible performances before the start of production.

De Carvalho et al. [112] demonstrated different failure locations upon maximum stress criteria (Fig. 12) whereas physical-based criteria displayed different failure locations. Chen at el. [113] developed laminated hybrid composite from unidirectional woven fabrics for ballistic performances and simulated the fabrics in yarn level as having a density of 6.73 threads/cm both in lengthwise and crosswise directions and fabric density 240 GSM. The fabric was modeled 10 × 10 cm² symmetrically in X and Z axis. The projectile velocity toward laminated composite was 500 m/s and the coefficient between the yarns was 0.14 [113]. The ballistic performance was measured as per Eq. 1.where \(\Delta E\) is loss of kinetic energy by projectile, m is projectile mass, v₁ is impact velocity, and v₂ is residual velocity of the projectiles. Finally, the FEA model was validated against the experimental data. The experimental results revealed that 0.053 J/g m⁻² energy was absorbed by one layer woven fabrics, whereas unidirectional woven fabrics (single layer) showed 0.047 J/g m⁻² [113].

In order to understand the impact effect on composite structure, a mathematical model could be developed for the prediction of contact force history and structural performance of the composites. The modeling of structural composite projectile dynamics and the indention of respective structures in terms of projectiles were determined. In this regard, inelastic impact was studied by Lin et al. [56] as demonstrated by Eq. 2:where \(m_{{\text{p}}}\) indicate projectile mass, \(V_{{\text{p}}}\) initial velocity, \(+ \,m_{{\text{n}}}\) stands for mass of the n node, and \(V_{0}\) is the initial velocity of node (impacted). Later, the projectile is considered as mass added to n node and dynamics of structures could be determined in terms of structural value problems.

Furthermore, micromechanical FEA is also getting attentions for characterizing composite materials through introducing adequate unit cells [114‐119]. The unit cells could be formulated depending on the periodic conditions of respective problems. The boundary conditions are extremely important which needed careful considerations before going to FEA of the problems. However, the boundary conditions also sometimes based on as per the intuition of respective persons or sometimes subjected to the uniaxial tensions [118]. Nonetheless, shear loading also needed to consider which is not performed in so many cases generally as this is relatively difficult scenario. Moreover, the validation of unit cell is also very important. ‘Sanity check’ is also necessary for the formulated unit cell to compare with the experimental data although precise correctness is difficult to achieve. The thermal performances of the 3D braided fabric-reinforced composites could also be calculated effectively through employing FEA [120‐122].

The production of fabrics for lamination is comparatively easier than other types of composites like fiber or particles. The hand-lay-up method is one of the most common and widely used fabrication methods for fabric lamination to produce composites due to the lost-cost manufacturing features. Recently, there were two types of laminated composites developed from our groups where flax and glass woven fabrics were the reinforcements and PLA, PP, and MDI were used as polymeric resin [123, 124]. In the case of flax/glass woven fabric/MDI composites, the MDI thermoset resin was sprayed over the stacked fabrics with a spatula and the lamination was created for six layers of fabrics. Later, the laminated fabrics were pressed by a pressing machine applying 3.50 MPa load at room temperatures for 5 min. The pressure was then released, and the laminated composites were cured at room temperature for 24 h. In the case of flax woven reinforced thermoplastic polymeric composites, initially the PLA and PP sheets were prepared by applying high temperatures (170 °C for PLA and 180 °C for PP). Later, the flax woven fabric, PLA and PP sheets with specific dimensions were laminated and hot-pressed again to produce the flax/PLA and flax/PP laminated composite panels. Monteiro et al. [125] developed fique (a special type of fabric) woven fabric-reinforced composites for armored vest applications. In this regard, they [125] dried the fabrics first and then poured the thermoset resin in the differently layered fabric stackings and pressed them (3 MPa) at room temperature (25 °C) for 24 h. Rouf et al. [126] developed laminated composites from eight plies of woven fabrics through implementing VARTM (vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding) methods. During this processing, all the plies were placed in zero degree directions. However, the asymmetric design was dominated by warp yarns in one face, whereas weft yarns were kept in another face. Moreover, the curing was conducted for 24 h at room temperature as well [126]. A schematic design of laminated composites is shown in Fig. 13.

The mechanical properties of composite are significant performance characteristics that require testing to examine the performance suitability of the products. Generally, the mechanical properties are investigated in terms of tensile, flexural, impact, and compressive properties. The mechanical properties depend on many factors like yarn geometry in fabrics, fiber types (natural or synthetic), matrix used for reinforcements, fabrication methods, heating/cooling rate for thermoplastic polymeric materials, and so on. Moreover, the chemical cross-linking, morphology, molecular weight, number of plies, fabric properties (like density, thickness, yarn count, etc.) also greatly influence developed laminated composite panels. The mechanical properties of different fabric-reinforced laminated composites are tabulated in Table 1.

Thermal stability of the laminated composites is a highly crucial parameter that could be investigated in terms of TGA (thermogravimetric analysis), DTG (derivative thermogravimetric, and DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) analysis. Kannan et al. [156] performed a study on flax interwoven fabric reinforced with PP composites. In the same study, they [156] found that control flax fabrics provided a three-step degradation (initially within 120–220 °C for moisture evaporations, a second step within 345–380 °C for hemicellulose and lignin decompositions, and a final step after 578 °C displayed the complete weight loss). However, PP shows the decompositions at high temperatures (initial and final) at 372 and 431 °C, respectively [156]. However, the loading of flax with PP improved the thermal stability of flax fabrics where the initial degradations starts from 200 °C, second step degradations at 333 to 375 °C, and final steps at 587 °C [156]. On the other hand, woven fabrics from synthetic fibers like glass display more thermal stability compared to natural fiber like flax woven fabric-reinforced polymeric (like MDI polymeric) composites [145].

Surface morphology investigation is extremely important to understand the fiber to matrix compatibility as it determines the thermo-mechanical performances of laminated composites. However, interfacial bonding or fiber to matrix adhesion in the case of fabrics made of natural fibers could be improved by using pretreatment (like mercerization/alkaline treatment) of the fabrics. Furthermore, if the fibers are incompatible with the polymers, there could also be a decline in mechanical properties with associated cracking, which becomes noticeable during the tensile stresses. The fracture could happen for a variety of reasons including irregular fiber distributions during the yarn and fabric formations, mixing of matured and immature fibers, arbitrary fiber lengths and nodes, and so on [140]. Moreover, the failure of composite system likely occurs because of fiber breakage in the laminate systems, too. The debonding of fibers from matrix system against tensile load is another major reason for composites failure [157]. To overcome the embrittlement in composite system, it is necessary to select the suitable polymers for the respective reinforcement materials. A failed section of composite is shown in Fig. 20 where the pulling out of fibers could easily be observed in the matrix systems.

Studying physical properties of laminated composite is important to investigate the dimensional stability of the developed materials. Water absorption, thickness swelling, and moisture content of laminated composites are considered as the principal physical properties. The water absorption of laminated composites entails the effect of moisture content characteristics of composites, debonding between the fiber and matrix, and associated strength loss [158]. Furthermore, higher water absorption and poor thickness swelling results in decreased mechanical properties [159]. The natural fiber-oriented fabric-reinforced polymeric composites provide higher moisture contents than artificial fiber-oriented fabric-reinforced laminated composites because the natural fibers contain cellulosic polymers in their chemical structure [145, 160, 161]. The reason for the higher moisture contents of natural fiber-based [162] fabric composite is the presence of hydrophilic compounds like –OH, –NH₂, –COOH, and –CO groups in their polymeric structures. Furthermore, the pretreatment of fabrics before composite formation could also lead to improved moisture content, water absorbency, and thickness swelling properties [163]. Water absorbency of the composite samples is measured as per Eq. 5, thickness swelling by Eq. 6 and moisture contents by Eq. 7.where \(W_{{\text{a}}}\) indicates water absorbency, \(W_{{\text{d}}}\) initial weight of specimens before submerging in water, \(W_{{\text{w}}}\) is the weight of specimens after being submerged in water.where \(T_{{\text{s}}}\) indicates thickness swelling, \(T_{{\text{d}}}\) initial thickness swelling of specimens before being submerged in water, \(T_{{\text{w}}}\) is the thickness swelling of specimens after being submerged in water.where \(M_{{\text{c}}}\) indicates moisture content, \(M_{{\text{b}}}\) initial weight of specimens before drying, \(M_{{\text{d}}}\) is the weight of specimens after drying. A schematic representation of samples submerging under the water is displayed in Fig. 21.

Hybrid laminated composites are formed by reinforcing two or three fabric types (such as fabric from different natural/synthetic fibers like glass/flax, different natural fibers like flax/hemp, and different synthetic materials like glass/carbon) with the polymeric matrix. The hybridization of laminated composites could provide superior thermo-mechanical properties [145, 164, 165]. Sometimes, fabrics with lower cost and modulus are hybridized with fabrics possessing higher modulus and cost to minimize the product cost with enhanced performances. The world is becoming more sustainable and greener; hence, reinforcement of strong synthetic base material like glass/carbon fabrics with comparatively less strong naturally derived flax/hemp woven fabrics could provide a greener product with the presence of polymers. Generally, the hybrid composites could provide even higher thermo-mechanical properties compared to individual fabric-based composites [140, 145]. Sometimes the natural and synthetic fibers can also be interwoven together (Fig. 22) to get the hybridized performances from ultimate composite products. Kumar et al. [166] conducted research on flax/glass woven fabric-reinforced vinyl ester composites with a different stacking sequence. In their study, they found that pure flax stacking (4 layers) provided 73.94 MPa tensile strength and pure glass stacking (similarly 4 layers) provided 85.16 MPa tensile strengths whereas their hybridized stacking (4 layers flax and 3 layers glass, in total 7 layers) provided the highest tensile strengths (143.21 MPa) [166]. The results clearly demonstrated that glass woven fabrics have higher strengths compared to natural flax; however, their hybridization could generate even higher tensile strengths than their individual contributions. The same study by Kumar et al. also found improved thermal behavior from their hybridized composites whereas pure glass contains highest thermal stability. Pure flax lowers stability, but all the hybrid composites were found to have stability between the glass and flax (Fig. 23). Overall, it could be summarized that the hybridization of laminated composite displays new potentiality with improved mechanical performances.

The composites sector is drawing increased attention for implementing state of the art technologies to improve performance and minimize processing costs by maintaining environmental sustainability. The implementation of FEA is also one of the prominent technologies for predicting performance, which could efficiently facilitate the minimizing of raw material usage and design from the operation protocols. The pretreatment of reinforcement [86] fabrics could also play a considerable role in developing thermo-mechanical performance by increasing fiber to matrix interactions. However, feasible pretreatment methods are limited; hence, more research to explore suitable routes of treating the fabrics in advance before laminations are needed. Laminated composites are becoming increasingly appealing for their superior application potentiality with multifaceted diversifications. However, the huge variation in knitting, weaving, and bonding could be tuned to bring a positive reinforcement attribution in the laminated composites through applying FEA. Furthermore, as laminated composites are gaining popularity for sensitive application areas like aerospace, researchers and manufacturers are also focusing on investigating and understanding the fracture behavior/failure mode of the laminations in composite systems. However, cracking could be identified by applying different methods such as finite element analysis, shear log model, and so on [167]. Typically, stiffness of the reinforced fabric materials is much higher compared to the polymeric matrix. Nevertheless, a considerable strain magnification occurs on the matrix system when the load is applied in transverse directions. Generally, the cracks are developed in off-axis directions [167]. Furthermore, due to the mismatching in-plane of composites transverse and longitudinal Poison ratio, the fracture could appear in longitudinal directions. Moreover, overall behavior and performances of the laminates are dependent on the cracking of matrix and internal damage against the applied load. In addition, modulus of laminates also declines significantly. Conversely, the residual thermal stress could be significantly developed at the curing stage, especially for synthetic/natural fiber-reinforced hybrid composites like carbon/epoxy laminates. The utilization of waste materials from textile and clothing industries is also gaining potentiality from the perspective of creating environmentally sustainable products [168‐170].

Zhang et al. [171] reviewed the FEA of composite plates after the 1990s and explored different models for designing the composites. Chen et al. [113] developed hybrid fabric panels with ballistic performance where they implemented FEA to predict the different fabric layer responses against impact load. Through FEA study, they summarized that the use of shear resistant material at front layer and tensile load resistant materials as rear layer could provide improved anti-ballistic performance for laminated composites [113].

The nonlinear behavior of structural composite is still a big challenge that needs to be explored to open more diverse routes of application. The failure and crack propagations while applying the cyclic load also requires further research. In addition, the damage related to micromechanical aspect is another needed research area. Moreover, multiscale modeling of crack propagations, crack initiations, and structure failure require more work to facilitate further improvements. The state-of-the-art design of laminated composite could also bring some significant revolutions in this sector, which could facilitate more advanced usage in multifaceted applications. Currently, the development of hybrid composites from natural and synthetic fiber originated fabrics are limited and not extensively used by manufacturers. This implies that more research and innovation could also facilitate the discovery of additional routes of potential laminated composites. Manufacturing industries also need to invest more into the latest machinery and software to ensure the feasible and convenient production of advanced, high-quality laminated composites. Efficiency demonstrates a higher production rate by maintaining qualitative products with minimized unit costs [172]. Generally, every manufacturing plant contains a research and development (R&D) unit, which could also efficiently facilitate the development of competitive and innovative products to meet market demands. Moreover, new methods of fabric-based reinforcement for high-performance cementitious materials are evolving [173]. However, the geometry of fabrics and associated yarns also plays a critical role in bonding between the reinforcements and matrix polymers like cements [174, 175]; more research to explore the most feasible routes is also required here. Moreover, fabric-reinforced laminated composites could be widely used for different parts of airplanes as shown in Fig. 24.

In the field of structural applications, reinforcement of fabric-based laminates in combination with natural and synthetic fabrics has garnered considerable interest due to environmental sustainability features. Numerous natural fibers (like flax, ramie, cotton, silk, wool, hemp, sisal, and so on) are used in fabric production and are becoming potential candidates for laminated composites manufacturing. The as-produced composites could replace traditional metallic composites. Furthermore, the increased utilization of natural sources, even in hybridization with synthetic materials, also minimizes consumption pressures in glass/carbon-based materials. These phenomena are creating positive environmental contributions by minimizing carbon footprints through environmentally-friendly sustainability. Furthermore, natural fiber-based fabric production consumes less energy and utilities than synthetic material production. On the other hand, waste (like woven/nonwoven/knitted fabrics) from textile manufacturing plants could also be utilized for composites production, which would minimize the extra-pressures on the environment via a reduction in solid waste disposal. Moreover, used fabrics could be utilized again through polymeric matrix reinforcement, which may impart significant mechanical properties by having extensive potentiality in terms of sustainable products through minimizing carbon footprints. Umar et al. [177] conducted a study on waste materials from a textile industry having both types of knit and woven wastes fabricated into laminated composites. The developed composites provided significant mechanical features that are compatible with glass fiber-reinforced composites [177]. Chen et al. conducted a study on recycled silk fabrics produced from silk waste and reinforced with epoxy poly(butylene) succinate (PBS) and found superior performance characteristics [178]. Sadrolodabaee et al. [179] conducted another study where they utilized nonwoven wastes collected from textile and garment industry residues reinforced with cement-based matrix. They revealed that all the composites provided satisfactory stress-bearing capabilities against applied load with remarkably improved and fortified properties.

The current global demand for composite products motivates manufacturers toward more decorative, advantageous, and diversified composite materials. Due to workforce availability and low material costs, China, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia are currently the largest producers of laminated composites [172]. Manufactures use laminated composites extensively, although they have some limitations regarding fracture/damage of composite systems, which reduces the structural mechanical performances of the composites [180]. Due to their outstanding properties such as being light weight, anti-corrosion, superior thermo-mechanical characteristics, and overall large volume of production capabilities composites are extensively used in aircraft structural applications such as light weight aircraft, helicopters, sailplanes, light machinery parts, bridges, construction, buildings, and commuter planes [57]. Moreover, the shipbuilding sector also uses glass-reinforced laminated composites for smaller vessels like yachts and fishing boats [56]. Naval applications are also expanding from sustainable laminated composite panels [181]. Carbon-based laminations used in prominent vehicle parts are becoming more popular in automotive sector [182]. Laminated composites from glass are also being implemented in areas where safety and security issues, such as in aerospace, defense, automotive windshields, and solar cell module materials, all of which are designed from structural and architectural points of view [183‐186]. Laminated composites could provide higher mechanical performances, security, and environmental sustainability as structural materials [187]. In a most recent study, Chillara et al. [188] discussed morphing technology for laminated composites. This technology could be used by soft robotics, aerospace, and automotive manufacturers as it could be shaped and tuned as per the desired performances over various ranges of operations. Defense industries are also using laminated composites [189, 190]. Furthermore, a business-friendly environment could nourish this sector significantly throughout the world. The increasing demand for sustainable and cost-effective products and technology is increasing worldwide as scientific knowledge expands. Different applications of fabric-reinforced composites are shown in Fig. 25. Laminated composites are becoming more appealing in the development of composites for aerospace and transportation applications.

SWOT analysis provides strategic planning for an organization/person to investigate strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and to obtain certain competitive benefits and ideas for businesses/operations. With this in mind, a SWOT analysis has been conducted to assess the potentiality of laminated composites (Table 2). Furthermore, through analyzing SWOT, corrective initiatives could be taken according to the necessity depending on the status of the operations/study.

Manufacturers produce fabric-reinforced laminated composites by combining various innovative, feasible technologies, and materials, which are recognized as advanced materials used for versatile applications. Researchers are continuously developing various fabric-based composites by combining different fibers and filaments with variable layers. Multifunctional composites with economic aspects from different fabrics also provide potential engineering solutions by reducing various processing steps and combining multiple products into a single one. High-performance fabrics are frequently reinforced with low-performance fabrics along with suitable polymeric materials to achieve the combined positive attributions from the final laminates through minimized costs. Fabric-based composites have found new production routes and potentialities with superior performance characteristics by replacing traditional composite manufacturing methods. However, ongoing research is required to develop novel fabric-based composites to meet the increased demand of consumers in terms of cost consciousness, environment friendliness, and durability with high performances. In addition, the high production rate of fabric-based composites would minimize costs and energy consumption. The production of energy efficient products would abate the pressure on the environment. Furthermore, the utilization of state-of-the-art technologies like numerical simulation, advanced bio-based polymeric materials, processing routes, fabric treatments, nanomaterial loading, and naturally originated fabric usage to ensure sustainability could create revolutionary changes in this sector.