CW Blog
Materials & Processes: Composites part design
Designers of composite parts can choose from a huge variety of fiber reinforcements and resin systems. That makes knowledge of how those materials work together a critically important aspect of part development. Here's a short description of what that knowledge entails.
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Materials & Processes: Fiber formats for composites
Fibers used to reinforce composites are supplied directly by fiber manufacturers and indirectly by converters in a number of different forms, which vary depending on the application. Here's a guide to what's available.
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Supply and demand: Advanced fibers
Demand for advanced fiber, virgin and reclaimed, is on an upswing after a dip during the recent recession. Fiber suppliers are gearing up to meet an expected increase in demand as manufacturers in a number of composites end-markets scale up or start up part development and production programs
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Materials & Processes: Introduction
High strength at low weight remain the winning combination that propels composite materials into new arenas, but other properties are equally important. This article outlines the case for composites and introduces SourceBook's overview of the materials and processes used to make them.
Read MoreThe NDE challenge
CW editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan discusses the aerospace industry's need for robust and reliable non-destructive evaluation technologies.
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Form + function = Classy chassis
Sandwich-composite chassis components double as structural and styling elements, reducing cost of ownership.
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Lower cost, less waste: Inline prepreg production
New technologies move direct (fabricator-based) prepregging closer to reality.
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2016 JEC World in Paris (Day 2): Composites in transition
The JEC Europe show has evolved over the past two decades into a very large and very busy convention, with a grown-up feel.
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Solar Impulse 2: Pulse on the future
Not yet through their ‘round the world flight, this superlight solar plane’s airframe-proven materials are already destined for higher callings.
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Natural fiber composites: Market share, one part at a time
Suppliers and adventurous composites fabricators put the “feel good” aspect in the rearview mirror, winning customers by competing on price and performance.
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Filament winding, compression molding combine on BMW M4 GTS
Cytec Solvay is debuting today a novel all-carbon fiber composite hood that it helped develop for the BMW M4 GTS, in cooperation with fabricator C-CON GmbH and automotive metals specialist Läpple AG.
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Spanish composites: growth trajectory
I’ve been traveling through Spain and visiting composites fabricators’ facilities, and a composites fabrication equipment supplier. Entrepreneurial effort and innovation clearly can occur anywhere, and it has been a fascinating journey.
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