CW Blog

Wind/Energy

Twisting in the Wind

CT editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan surveys the potential negative effects on the composites industry of the battles in the U.S. Congress over over renewal of the Production Tax Credit for renewable energy technologies — and the resulting uncertainty in the wind energy market.

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Wind/Energy

COMPOSITES 2012 Highlights

As ACMA’s annual conclave convened in North America’s gambling capital, show exhibitors and attendees placed their bets on better days.

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Wind/Energy

Thermoplastic Wind Blades: To be or not?

Will future wind blades incorporate thermoplastic composites? It depends on whom you ask.

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Marine

Carbon fiber market: Gathering momentum

All signs point to increasing demand from many market sectors. Will capacity keep pace?

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Aerospace

Testing the damage tolerance of composite materials

Dr. Donald F. Adams (Wyoming Test Fixtures, Salt Lake City, Utah) looks at standards and also-rans in the area of testing for damage tolerance.

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Editorial

In memorium: Bill Benjamin

HPC editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan looks at the contribution and the legacy of a composites industry icon, Bill Benjamin.

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Software enables submarine shipyard’s composites-for-metal effort

When Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft GmbH (Kiel, Germany) looked for a software solution to reduce the risk of using composites for a greater range of thicker parts, FiberSIM software from VISTAGY Inc. (Waltham, Mass.) enabled its engineers to develop initial designs more quickly and to better understand the impact of design changes.

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Autoclave

Thermocouple innovation shortens autoclave setup for stringers/frames

ATK Aerospace Structures (Clearfield, Utah) trials a thermocouple system from TE Wire & Cable LLC (Saddle Brook, N.J.) called AccuConnect, which cuts thermocouple setup time from 2.5 hours to 20 minutes.

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Thermoplastics

Styrene: Issues and implications

The facts (such as they are) behind the furor surrounding this vital crosslinking chemical’s listing in the 12th RoC.

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Aerospace

SAMPE Europe 2012 preview

SEICO 12 focuses attention on composite technologies of the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft.

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Wind/Energy

Corrosion prevention: Glass/vinyl ester liner protects power plant pit

When PT Paiton Energy in Paiton, East Java, Indonesia, wanted to expand its existing 1,230-MW coal-fired power plant, it needed a new concrete aeration pit to hold seawater that is circulated through the plant’s cooling system.

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Core

Noise enclosures: Composites damp sound on offshore rig

For offshore oil rig operations, DIAB has led a team that developed a cored sandwich composite alternative to metal sound-damping enclosures at half the weight.

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