CW Blog

Sustainability

Airlander 10: The future of zero-carbon aviation

Lighter-than-air flight is making a comeback with Hybrid Air Vehicles’ Airlander airliner and it’s taking composites and sustainability to the next level.

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Large composite covers protect a lot of water

A massive concrete water storage facility in Bogotá, Colombia, gets a much-needed makeover with the resin transfer molding of 840 large composite domes that keep the water potable.

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Bonding/Welding

Durability testing of adhesively bonded composites

Current test method development shows potential for the composite wedge test, a standardized durability-based test for adhesively bonded composites. 

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Work In Progress

Glass fiber and phenolic prove their mettle in camshaft module

Replacing aluminum, a fiberglass/phenolic module reduces mass and NVH in a prototype structure and speeds assembly line installation.

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Automotive

Automated weaving system targets high-performance, high-volume applications

Startup WEAV3D Inc.’s technology produces highly tunable, woven lattice reinforcements for cost-effective, high-volume automotive composites and precast concrete applications.

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Digital Demos

Additive manufacturing/compression molding technology for next-generation composites

9T Labs’ deposition process places continuous carbon fiber only where necessary to save material, reduce waste, and more precisely control the structure of preformed composites.

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ATL/AFP

Challenges of laser-assisted tape winding of thermoplastic composites

Practical solutions for process-related challenges in LATW, which has great potential for pressure vessels and storage tanks.

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Infrastructure

Composite panels aid design of prefabricated apartment addition

Glass fiber/epoxy sandwich panels achieved structural requirements, complex geometries and challenging installation needs for London apartment renovation.

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Economics

Slow supply chains and strong demand elevate material prices

The Composites Fabricating Index set a new multi-year high for the month of February. Fabricators should expect material prices to remain highly volatile the longer that supply chains remain disrupted.

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Composites 4.0

Innovative tooling, automation enable new line of composite window wells

Moldmaker and automation specialist Commercial Tool Group provided RockWell with custom compression molds and robotics to enable high-volume, low-cost production.

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Editorial

Lessons learned, a year later

When the pandemic struck, we yearned for normality. Getting back there will take time and patience.

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Out of Autoclave

Tech Table: Curing Ovens

A table of composite curing ovens composed of data provided by suppliers. 

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Composite raw materials
CAMX 2024
High-Performance Composites
Aerospace prepreg and carbon fiber
VersaMix® meter mix system