Carbon fiber reinforced polymer as epoxy, but other thermoset or thermoplastic polymers, such as polyester, vinyl ester, or nylon, are sometimes used. The composite material may contain aramid (e.g. Kevlar, Twaron), ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), aluminium, or glass fibers in addition to carbon fibers. The properties of the final CFRP product can also be affected by the type of additives introduced to the binding matrix (resin). The most common additive is silica, but other additives such as rubber and carbon nanotubes can be used. The material is also referred to as "graphite-reinforced polymer" or "graphite fiber-reinforced polymer" ("GFRP" is less common, as it clashes with
National Centre for the Evaluation of Photoprotection increasing problems of degradation (yellowing – bleaching - physical properties loss … ). CNEP is today still associated with LPMM but also with many small, medium and world size companies working in various domains of polymer applications. More of 500 failure cases are examined each year by CNEP and expertise on the last twenty years is covering more of 100.000 different polymer formulations. Progressively with the development of sophisticated analytical tools, CNEP was extending its activity to the direct physicochemical analysis of any failure in polymer material, not only derived from ageing (polymer degradation). All researches are made under contract