Sara Black

Sara Black Senior Technical Editor Emeritus

Automotive

Improved intumescent: Topcoat allows better laminate performance

Applied to a cured laminate surface, a new intumescent topcoat provides Wright Composites (Galgorm, Ballymena, Northern Ireland) a passive fire barrier that permits the use of a laminating resin with less fire-resistant filler, making possible a tougher part.

Read More
ATL/AFP

Corrosion resistance: Desert-bound chemical and potable-water tanks

RL Industries (Fairfield, Ohio) recently overcame logistical obstacles to successfully fabricate five large composite storage tanks for a chemical plant in Saudi Arabia.

Read More
Aerospace

SQRTM enables net-shape parts

New out-of-autoclave process combines resin transfer molding with prepregs for complex helicopter part prototype.

Read More
Medical

General aviation: An appreciation

HPC’s technical editor Sara Black says recessionary scorn of private flight unnecessarily harmed the economically vital general aviation industry.

Read More
BMI

Farnborough International Airshow 2010

Although uncertainties remain, aircraft OEMs see recovery in order numbers.

Read More
Aerospace

EAA AirVenture 2010

Rain on the Wittman Field runways can’t dampen Oshkosh Fly-In enthusiasm.

Read More
Aerospace

Aerospace & Defense M&A Analysis: It's a sellers' market

Investment banker Paul Weisbrich gauges the aerospace/defense M&A market in an exclusive interview.

Read More

Deepsea submersible incorporates composite pressure capsule

Spencer Composites Corp. (Sacramento, Calif.) fabricates the inner carbon/epoxy composite pressure capsule for a submersible deepsea vessel the late Steve Fossett was to take to the depths of the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench.

Read More

Lightweighting a heavyweight

Process combination produces significantly lighter overhead storage bins for big-rig sleeper cabs.

Read More
Infrastructure

Directed airflow: An efficient breath of fresh air

Structural Composite Technologies Ltd. (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada) installs a directed-airflow ventilation system manufactured by Frees Inc. (Shreveport, La.).

Read More

Third-party tests support claims for crosslinking spray adhesive

Aerospace manufacturers that adopt vacuum infusion processes are discovering what processors of boat hulls and wind turbine blades already know: Placement of multiple plies of slippery dry fiber reinforcements in molds with vertical sides or tight radii is problematic.

Read More
Autoclave

Shared composite material property databases

Work at NCAMP is proceeding, with several new materials undergoing testing.

Read More
Composite raw materials