Abstract:Thin-ply carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) have the advantages of light weight, good mechanical properties, good adaptability to complex shapes, strong designability, which are valuable characteristics in aerospace applications. From the views of the macro, meso and micro scales of CFRP laminates, the research progresses for the thinply effects on the basic problems of the laminate such as porosity, meso (micro) structural evolution and damage mechanism are reviewed, and the direct meanings of the important research conclusions to the development of thin-ply composites are analyzed in this paper. The controversial research results and related theoretical foundation are discussed. Furthermore, the applications of thin-ply CFRP structural parts in aircraft, foldable structures in satellite and large liquid fuel storage tanks are introduced.