Bismaleimide resin

These can be solutions or hot-melt resins. These and related materials such as acetylene terminated polyimide have high temperature resistance. Some of the matrix materials can be used up to above 300°C. When used with carbon fibres they are considered to be advanced composites because of these properties, and because they have superior performance to epoxies in hot/wet conditions, but there are accompanying disadvantages. They are normally very brittle and prone to microcracking, although, as with epoxies, this tendency can be reduced by the incorporation of a thermoplastic component.