Work In Progress

Work In Progress 12 Oct 2023

Composite molding compound replaces Invar for lightweight small satellite structures

Patz Materials and Technologies and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory developed a new monolithic optics housing with 80% less weight, near-zero CTE and the high-volume manufacturing required for commercial space.

Carbon Fibers 25 Sep 2023

Engine vane demonstrates potential for gapped, unidirectional dry fiber for infusion

GKN Aerospace and its partners developed an aircraft demonstrator component made with TeXtreme’s latest Gapped UD material, proving out a dry, infusible tape meant to compare in performance to UD prepreg.

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RTM 23 Aug 2023

Modular, robotic cells enable high-rate RTM using any material format

Airborne’s automated ply placement systems at Airbus, GKN Aerospace and Teijin Automotive Technologies aim to maximize flexibility and intelligent automation.

Wind/Energy 11 Sep 2023

Drag-based wind turbine design for higher energy capture

Claiming significantly higher power generation capacity than traditional blades, Xenecore aims to scale up its current monocoque, fan-shaped wind blades, made via compression molded carbon fiber/epoxy with I-beam ribs and microsphere structural foam.

Carbon Fibers 29 May 2023

Large-diameter composite pipe repairs Detroit sewage system

QuakeWrap's 16-foot-diameter FRP pipes will transfer more than half of Detroit's sewage from a pump station.

Work In Progress 22 May 2023

Ultra-lightweight skis demonstrate potential of graphene-reinforced composites

With a graphene additive, Folsom Custom Skis evolved and optimized the material makeup of its carbon fiber composite touring skis for higher performance at a lighter weight.

Pultrusion 25 Apr 2023

Robotized system makes overmolding mobile, flexible

Anybrid’s ROBIN demonstrates inline/offline functionalization of profiles, 3D-printed panels and bio-based materials for more efficient, sustainable composite parts.

Aerospace 24 Mar 2023

MFFD thermoplastic floor beams — OOA consolidation for next-gen TPC aerostructures

GKN Fokker and Mikrosam develop AFP for the Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator’s floor beams and OOA consolidation of 6-meter spars for TPC rudders, elevators and tails.

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