Top 10 CompositesWorld products of 2023

Photo Credit: CW

The composites industry saw many new innovations and product developments this past year, marking significant strides in its evolution. This compilation serves as a valuable resource, offering insights into the latest trends and groundbreaking solutions that have garnered attention and acclaim within the composites sphere. Take a moment to explore CW's comprehensive list of the top 10 most-viewed products, based on Google Analytics data.

10. Toray announces Torayca T1200 carbon fiber

Photo Credit: Toray

Toray Industries Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, has introduced Torayca T1200. This innovation is designed to reduce environmental impact by creating lighter carbon fiber-reinforced plastic materials. Its versatile applications span from sports and recreational equipment to aircraft manufacturing. Read the full product release.

9. TemperChip machining temperature sensor for composites

Photo Credit: TemperChip

TemperChip, a patented noncontact temperature measurement device developed by Yaakov Manas and Eli Yudkevich, is installed on cutting tools or machine holders. This innovation addresses the machining of composite materials by enabling continuous temperature measurement control. It offers the capability to track various work parameters between the machine and the work material, allowing for the monitoring of tool life and efficiency. Read the full product release.

8. GEHR presents compostable, recyclable wood-based 3D printing filament

Photo Credit: GEHR

GEHR (Mannheim, Germany), a global producer of thermoplastic semi-finished products, presents Eco-Fil-A-Gehr. This wood-based filament is tailored for professional 3D printing, boasting high dimensional stability, ideal elastic properties and the added benefits of being compostable and recyclable. Read the full product release.

7. Spur offers Hardex structural foam core as alternative to low-weight cores in sandwich composites

Photo Credit: Spur

Spur (Zlín, Czech Republic) — a family-owned polymers and plastics processing company — specializes in manufacturing Hardex XPP (extruded polypropylene) Performance foam core. This foam core is well suited for composite sandwich structures, providing excellent mechanical strength while maintaining a lightweight build. It finds applications in automotive and truck interiors, recreational vehicles (RVs), furniture, construction profiles and various marine uses due to its strength-to-weight ratio and water resistance. Additionally, its insulation properties make it highly sought after for use in structural insulation panels (SIPs). Read the full product release.

6. SmartValves offer improvements over traditional vacuum bag ports

Photo Credit: SmartValves, Bert Groenewoud, Earth and Flight Composites

Bert Groenewoud, an experienced composites technician, instructor and process development engineer with more than 40 years in the field of composites fabrication and repair, created SmartValves. These valves were specifically devised to address challenges encountered during intricate vacuum bagging processes for aircraft structures. Read the full product release.

5. Envalior offers novel Tepex composite for EV battery housings

Photo Credit: Envalior 2023

Envalior (Düsseldorf, Germany), a recently established company formed through a collaboration between DSM Engineering Materials (DEM) and Lanxess’ High-Performance Materials (HPM) unit, introduces a new composite material within the Tepex brand. This material successfully meets the standard thermal runaway tests for electric vehicle (EV) battery housings, even with low test specimen thicknesses. Its resistance to the intense conditions of a battery cell fire is attributed to the presence of long, continuous non-flammable fibers that reinforce the material in a multilayer structure. Read the full product release.

4. Hexcel launches novel RTM resin, rapid-cure prepreg for aerospace

Photo Credit: Hexcel

In response to the need for increased production efficiency from OEMs, Hexcel (Stamford, Conn., U.S.) has introduced two new aerospace material products. These solutions offer faster cure cycles, allowing forenabling production build rates.

One of these products, HexPly M51, is a rapid-curing prepreg designed for hot-in/hot-out press curing. It seamlessly integrates with automated tape laying (ATL), automated fiber placement (AFP) and pick-and-place processes. REACH-compliant, HexPly M51 boasts a 40-minute cure cycle at 180°C. Notably, it was used in collaboration with GKN Aerospace (Redditch, U.K.) to manufacture a rib component for the ASCEND project. Read the full product release.

3. SABIC launches fiber-reinforced, intumescent, fire-retardant resins

Photo Credit: SABIC

SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Houston, Texas, U.S.) launched two materials, SABIC PP compound H1090 and Stamax 30YH611 resins, ideal for sheet extrusion and thermoforming applications. These materials provide an alternative to conventional sheet metal forming, compression and injection molding techniques. The company asserts that it empowers customers to create sizable, intricate structural components. Read the full product release.

2. Teijin Automotive innovates core technologies for body panels

Photo Credit: Teijin Automotive Technologies

Teijin Automotive Technologies (Auburn Hills, Mich., U.S.) has introduced two key products in its lineup of automotive composite innovations. One of these is Hexacore, a honeycomb core specifically crafted for use with Teijin Automotive’s high-speed compression molding process. It serves in crafting lightweight, Class A body panels, roof panels, closures and various automotive components to meet both present and future industry requirements. Read the full product release.

1. Graphene-enhanced SMC boosts molded component properties

Photo Credit: NanoXplore Inc.

NanoXplore Inc. (Montréal, Quebec Canada) stands as a large producer of graphene nanomaterials globally. Its production capacity reaches 4,000 tons per year of graphene powder, serving diverse applications across the transportation, industrial sectors and within various composite uses. Beyond producing standard and tailored graphene-enhanced plastic and composite formulations, NanoXplore also ventures into developing new graphene applications. Additionally, the company manufactures plastic and composite parts for markets in transportation, renewable energy, energy storage and industry. It owns several processors, molders and compounders as part of its operations. Read the full product release.