CW Blog

Bonding

New method developed for bonding thermoplastic composites

A researcher at the University of Twente in The Netherlands has reportedly developed a method for adhesion improvement in thermoplastic composites.

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Composites and the future of package delivery

Germany-based CIKONI combined carbon fiber, aluminum and sandwich-based materials to create lightweight, modular shelving for the Vision Van, developed by Mercedes-Benz Vans. Video included.

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Out of Autoclave

SMC is on the upswing (and check out this design competition)

There’s a lot going on with sheet molding compound (SMC) right now, including a design competition for best SMC design, with the winner announced at Composites Europe.

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NDI

CW Plant Tour: Aeris Energy, Caucaia, Brazil

This young, up-and-coming wind blade manufacturer was founded to serve the Brazilian wind energy market, but it’s poised to do much more.

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Epoxies

Automating NDT for CFRP aerostructures

Robotic laser shearography enables 100% inspection of complex, flight-critical composite structures.

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Carbon Fibers

OOA composites in next-generation launch systems

As United Launch Alliance ULA replaces Atlas and Delta with next-generation launch rockets under the Vulcan name, supplier Ruag Space has been selected to provide lower cost/improved quality out-of-autoclave fabrication of Vulcan’s composite primary structures. Ruag will manufacture 5.4m payload fairings and 400-series interstage adapters for ULA’s Atlas V rocket.

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Composites 4.0

Composites in Class A body panels: Evolution continues

Low-density SMCs lead the way as fiber-reinforced polymers make headway in auto components that must please the eye.

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Carbon Fibers

Carbon composite driveshaft: Tailorable performance

This racing and aftermarket specialist designs and produces custom driveshafts for multiple markets.

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Reading the Trump tea leaves

The art and science of determining what the President-elect and the new US Congress might or might not do, and when they might or might not do it, and how it might or might not affect the composites industry.

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Electronics

Overmolding for automotive

Surface Generation (Rutland, UK) has started work on an 18-month research and development project to produce affordable, lightweight carbon fiber components for the automotive industry.

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Space

New technology boosts electrical and thermal conductivity of composites

Researchers believe that the technology will have wide-reaching benefits in the aerospace industry.

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Pressure Vessels

A better method of structural health monitoring?

Fibersail, a 2014 startup firm with offices in Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Leça de Palmeira, Portugal, aims to change the current state of real-time structural health/shape monitoring for composite structures — initially, for wind farm operators.

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