Ginger Gardiner

Ginger Gardiner Senior Technical Editor

Trends

Graphene-reinforced carbon fibers may offer path to stronger, cheaper composites

Graphene (0.075 weight %) added to PAN precursor exhibited 225% increase in carbon fiber tensile strength and 184% increase in modulus.

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Pressure Vessels

CSIRO: Developing higher-quality, higher-strength, lower-cost carbon fibers

SIROPAN precursor aims for >20% increase in carbon fiber properties with increased control via RAFT polymerization, FLOW processing and novel metrology.

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Wind/Energy

LM Wind Power to close Little Rock wind blade plant

Production to consolidate in North Dakota facility as industry moves toward bigger blades.

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Aerospace

Cevotec upgrades SAMBA Fiber Patch Placement cells for production of large aerostructures

New features enable increased efficiency for curved structures using biaxial and quasi-isotropic laminates.

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Construction

Composite 3D printing allows damage detection in aerospace and construction

Using Anisoprint 3D printers, a materials research center in the Netherlands has developed 3D-printed composite parts with self-sensing functionality.

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Aerospace

Welded thermoplastic composite keel beam demonstrator achieved

EURECAT and partner companies complete Clean Sky 2 KEELBEMAN project, demonstrating TRL3 primary structure technology for future aircraft.

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Biomaterials

Italian research agency fights COVID-19 with smart shelters using biocomposites

SOS Smart Operating Shelter project offers fast-build mobile healthcare structures using natural fiber/biopolymer sandwich panels.

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Molds/Tools

3D printing large composite molds with a 5-axis CNC machine

Hungarian manufacturer uses CEAD Robot Extruder to cut composite tooling time and cost.

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Aerospace

CETMA: composites R&D and innovation in Italy

From design and simulation to inline inspection, induction welding, continuous compression molding and recycled carbon fiber, this lab to support industry is advancing composites in aerospace, automotive, construction and more.

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AFRL evaluates braiding, SMP tooling and VARTM for lower-cost future engine inlet ducts

U.S. Air Force and Ohio-based composites team develop new process for S-shaped aerostructure.

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Sustainability

Strukton Civiel and FiberCore Europe cooperate to retrofit concrete bridges with composite FRP decks

SUREbridge offers sustainable, cost-saving strengthening for outdated bridges.

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Aerospace

Composites industry response to the coronavirus pandemic, Part 1

A compilation of CompositesWorld’s coverage of how the pandemic has affected the composites industry, through March 31, 2020.

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Composite raw materials