Ginger Gardiner

Ginger Gardiner Senior Technical Editor

Out of Autoclave

Fastener-free, composite aircraft door and control surfaces

All-composite, integrated structures using RTM cut weight and cost by more than 30%.

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Prepregs

CFRP: Opportunities in orthopedics

Carbon fiber has a niche, but can it secure a larger piece of a high-growth pie?

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Defense

Composites in exoskeletons

Wearable robotics need strength, stiffness and lightweight and are forecast at a CAGR of 40-50%. Will composites play a role or be left behind?

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Defense

Large portable antenna goes lightweight with conductive composites

CFRP matches metal performance at one-third the weight thanks to innovative materials and precision manufacturing.

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Construction

What do PU/carbon spars and the Valencia lighthouse have in common?

Saertex reinforcements, infusion, speed of fabrication and long life.

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Bonding

Aircraft composites repair: Plasma’s potential for better bonds

Plasma treatment might be a key enabling technology in the pursuit of certification-worthy, fastener-free adhesively bonded repair patches applied to aircraft primary structure.

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First 3D woven composite for NASA thermal protection systems

A NASA-led team develops 3D woven quartz preform, hybrid process to infuse it with cyanate ester resin (0.5% voids) and achieves TRL5 in three years to replace CF/phenolic in the Orion spacecraft’s compression pads.

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Carbon Fibers

Suppliers team to amp Viking 80C performance

Thanks to a coordinated effort with its fabric, core and panel suppliers, Viking Yachts was able to introduce carbon fiber cost-effectively, shaving weight and boosting speed in its new 24m-long 80C model.

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Aerospace

Carbures: Conquering the world for composites

This global Tier 2 supplier produced 39,322 parts for Airbus in 2015, has sold seven RMCP machines to China capable of 40,000-75,000 composite auto parts/yr and is completing a study on opportunities for composites in oil and gas applications in Mexico. What next?

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Out of Autoclave

Automated dry fiber placement: A growing trend

Many collaboratives and individual companies have pursued or are currently pursuing initiatives in dry fiber placement and OOA process development.

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Pressure Vessels

Dry fiber placement: Surpassing limits

Coriolis Composites’ automated aerostructures manufacturing using dry materials moves from development projects to production.

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Aerospace

Resin transfer molding: An update

Fulfilling the promise of OOA composites without sacrificing pressure.

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Composite raw materials