A practical guide to composites: Editorial guidelines and FAQs
ACM CRC is interested in publishing good-quality, informative, plain English articles explaining composites. Here are some things to consider if you want to contribute to our series, titled A practical guide to composites.
Why are we doing this and what are we after?
A goal of this explainer series, launched September 2026, is to increase public appreciation of the importance of fibre-based composite materials, the engineering involved in their design and manufacture, their contribution to progress, and their current and potential economic impact.
Explainer articles should be between 500 and 1,000 words. If it's warranted, an article can be published in more than one part.
Contributors should assume that a reader has no technical background and has just recently become curious about the subject.
A useful set of criteria to think of regarding a topic is to answer a reader asking who, what, why, where, when, and how: the 5Ws (and a H.)
For example, an explainer on pultrusion might start with “what is pultrusion?” Secondary questions you might like to look at could be, “how does it work?”, “why is it useful?” etc.
Another topic might be “why are composite pressure vessels useful in transport?” You could explain the types of vessels that exist, how they are made, how they work etc.
Articles should avoid using technical language unless this can’t be avoided in an explanation.
Self-promotion is also to be avoided. Political opinions also have no place in an article.
Any interest (or potential conflict of interest) should be stated in a bio.
Bios should be five or six sentences long, and will run at the bottom of the article, along with a backlink to your organisation’s website and (if you want) your Linkedin profile.
Please also supply a portrait-style picture of yourself to accompany an article, along with any pictures that might be useful to support the text. Please make sure you have the right to share any image provided.
All articles will be made available to republish under Creative Commons 4.0.
We welcome pitches. Please send yours to brent.balinski@acmcrc.com
If you have anything to ask this isn't covered above, maybe it's in the below FAQs. If not, then get in touch.
A practical guide to composites FAQs (last updated August 2026)
I work with or research composite materials. Would you publish my article?
We can consider it if you work to our editorial guidelines. If you do, then we’d likely be very happy to.
What’s the scope? What’s within/out of bounds?
We aim to publish good-quality, informative, plain English articles on composites. Assume the reader has no technical background but would like to learn more about a given composites-related subject. What would they ask? Consider the 5Ws when writing.
We want to increase appreciation of fibre-based composite materials, the engineering involved in their design and manufacture, where they’re useful etc.
Explainer articles should be between 500 and 1,000 words. If it's warranted, an article can be published in more than one part.
How often will you publish installments to this explainer series?
The answer is a work in progress, but we’d hope to publish one a week. This all depends on the volume of submissions that come through.
I have a political opinion that I want to share. Is this something you’re interested in?
Strictly: no. Imagine you’re talking to a stranger who has sought your expertise on this subject and is completely uninterested in your views on politics, religion etc.
What’s the word limit?
Shoot for 500 – 1,000 words.
What’s the submission process?
After making sure you’re within the editorial guidelines and have given your copy at least a once-over for spelling, grammar and readability, please send it to brent.balinski@acmcrc.com
What should I keep in mind while writing my article? Who is my ideal reader?
Assume an adult reader who is of average intelligence, has no background in composites, but has just become curious enough to google whatever your topic is. What do you think they’d want to know?
Why are you doing this series? What are you hoping to accomplish?
ACM CRC is a 10-year initiative aiming to increase the competitiveness of Australia’s composites industry through collaborative projects, supporting industry PhDs, and other means. We appreciate the importance of the industry, would like to help anybody who wants to know about this, and would like to tap into the wisdom of our community for the purpose.
What do I get out of this? Why should I contribute something?
You would be published on our website and promoted through our social media channels and newsletter. You would receive the benefit of increased visibility of yourself and your expertise, share why you find the subject fascinating, and get a backlink to whatever your website is.
I want to promote my company, can you help out?
Contributing to this series is a form of promotion: your picture, a mention of your company in your bio, and a link to your company and personal page are part of participation. That said, this exercise isn’t to explicitly promote a product or service. We will reject (or politely request a rewrite) if the article is nakedly self-promotional.
How can the ACM CRC help me?
ACM CRC welcomes engagement from industry and research partners interested in collaborating on advanced composites manufacturing initiatives. Contact us here.
If I get published once, would you publish another article by me?
Sure! You can submit as many articles as you want, as long as they’re within the scope outlined.
A topic has already been covered, but I’d like to revisit it. Can I write something?
We’re tending towards no, but maybe. If there’s a fresh angle and you can add something significantly different to the previous article then it might be considered.
I’d love to write, but I’m stumped! What are some topic ideas?
There really are too many to list. A few follow. What is pre-preg? What is the story of fibreglass’s invention? What is a composites industry-relevant degree? How is aramid made? What are the different types of glass fibre and where are they used? Why has CFRP recycling emerged as an issue in the last decade?
I’m from a website or periodical covering something related to an article published through this explainer series. Can I republish the article?
Please do, with the appropriate credit, including a link to the original version. More information on republishing under Creative Commons is available here.
What you’ve answered above doesn’t answer my question. Can I write you?
Absolutely. Please send your query to brent.balinski@acmcrc.com
