Corespine

Corespine is a class of engineered composite material characterized by a stiff, spine-like core surrounded by a tougher skin layer. The core provides shear and bending stiffness, while the skin carries load transfer, resulting in high specific strength and energy absorption. The term originated in materials research to describe spine-driven architectures that mimic biological columnar structures.

Structure and properties: The architecture combines a lattice or fibrous core with a densified outer layer. Typical densities range from 1.1 to 1.7 g/cm3. Failures tend to initiate in the skin; the core limits delamination. Thermal stability is commonly up to 250-350 C depending on resin and core material.

Production: Corespine components are fabricated by stacking preforms or printing a lattice, then infusing with resin (RTM or infusion) and curing under vacuum. Post-processing uses surface finishing and bonding with external skins for assembled panels.

Applications: Used in aerospace, automotive, and civil engineering where high stiffness-to-weight ratio and energy absorption are valuable. Potential in protective gear and sporting equipment.

Advantages and challenges: High specific stiffness, good crash energy management, and damage tolerance; drawbacks include complexity of manufacturing, higher cost, and recyclability concerns.