CW Blog

Aerospace

Rocket engine thrust frame proves a strong candidate for composites conversion

The engine thrust frame of a space launch vehicle, located at the bottom of a rocket stage, joining fuel tanks to engines, must deliver strength and stiffness across a range of temperatures — cost-effectively.

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Infrastructure

Easy-to-use kits enable infield repair of composite structures

Portable kit enables patch repairs using UV-cure glass fiber/vinyl ester or room-temp stored carbon fiber/epoxy prepregs and battery-powered curing equipment.

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Work In Progress

Forged molding compound: Extending SMC capabilities

New material, design, process combination approaches prepreg performance with chopped carbon fiber SMC.

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Composite testing challenges, Part 3: Testing systems

Several factors need to be considered for accurate and efficient composites testing, including testing systems that can accommodate required test environments, alignment and offer intuitive software.

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Economics

Composites Index sustains a third month in record territory

Accelerating new orders, backlogs and challenging supply chains propel the index higher for the month of May. 

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Trends

Robotic injection molding for functionalized composites

Anybrid enables compact, flexible hybrid injection molding/overmolding for smaller series and larger components.

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How to: Getting the most from your mold release

Mold release specialist AXEL Plastics offers dos and don’ts for cleaning, stripping and preparing molds for composites manufacturing. (Sponsored)

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Infrastructure

Episode 39: Joe Fox, FX Consulting

Consultant Joe Fox talks about the massive potential for composites use in infrastructure applications and what it will take to turn that potential into reality.

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Wind/Energy

Optimizing a wind turbine nacelle cover to meet LCOE demand

Suzlon Group redesigned a composite nacelle cover with in-situ molded stiffeners to reduce manufacturing and material costs while maximizing part performance.

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Troubleshooter

Porosity, voids and bridging in prepreg autoclave and vacuum bag-only laminates

Consideration of materials, methods and systems explores ways to reduce potential surface porosity, voids, resin-rich areas, bridging and other flaws in composite laminates.

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Designing a versatile, multi-material EV battery enclosure

Continental Structural Plastics has developed one-piece, compression-molded composite covers, an innovative fastening system and a range of material options to meet OEM needs.

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Digital Demos

Applying UV-curable powder coatings to composites

Keyland Polymer UV Powder reviews the features, benefits and applications of its UV-curable powder coatings in a composites manufacturing environment.

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