Work In Progress

Recycling 20 May 2022

High-performance sustainability and cost-efficiency advance with HiPerDiF

In the latest chapter of the HiPerDiF (High Performance Discontinuous Fibre) story, commercial production is on the near horizon for high-performance composite materials that are both sustainable and formable, leading to simpler, more cost-efficient composites manufacturing.

Automotive 27 Apr 2022

Multi-material steel/composite leaf spring targets lightweight, high-volume applications

Rassini International was challenged by Ford Motor Co. to take weight out of the F-150 pickup truck. Rassini responded with a multi-material steel/composite hybrid leaf spring system that can be manufactured at high volumes.

Carbon Fibers 21 Apr 2022

Long-fiber liquid crystal polymers

High-performance, injection moldable grades to be offered with long glass, carbon fiber options.

Sheet Molding Compound 21 Mar 2022

Can 3D printing debottleneck prototype tool production?

Preliminary IACMI/ORNL study evaluates viability of using polymer additive tooling to compression mold SMC.

Recycling 23 Feb 2022

Pressurized steam-based composites recycling for full fiber reclamation

Longworth’s DEECOM process for composites recycling claims to produce intact fiber and resin reclamation with near-virgin properties.

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Sheet Molding Compound 28 Jan 2022

Envisioning high-volume, 100% composite wheels

Vision Wheel debuted its first carbon fiber composite wheel at CAMX 2021, claiming its low-cost, high-volume process can be scaled up for performance vehicles, UTVs and — ultimately — passenger EVs.

Work In Progress 26 Jan 2022

Hybrid battery cover: CAE approach

A Q&A with Benedikt Fengler, co-founder and composites simulation specialist for Simutence provides a more in-depth take on moldfilling, warpage and assembly simulations performed in HRC Group’s SMC battery cover feasibility study.

Design/Simulation 21 Jan 2022

NASA Institute develops carbon nanotube-based composites for Mars spacecraft

The five-year project employs computational modeling techniques to build composite panels that are three times stiffer and stronger than current carbon fiber to enable manned missions to Mars.

Fabrics/Preforms 11 Jan 2022

Modular draping system shows potential for wrinkle-free, automated dry fiber layup

Through research programs FlexProCFK and AutoBLADE, Leibniz University and partners are developing a robot-mounted layup system for complex CFRP parts.