Sara Black Senior Technical Editor Emeritus

Molds/Tools 24 Apr 2009

Lightweight, stable large-tool concept requires no master model

After two years of testing, partners Advanced Composites Group (ACG, Tulsa, Okla.) and GrafTech (Parma, Ohio) are commercializing the ACG GRAFOAM FPA-20 tooling system, a new concept in dimensionally stable, low-mass, high-temperature-compatible composite tooling. The system’s foundation is carbon foam.

Materials Testing 24 Apr 2009

C-Scan inspection facility cuts cost for commercial copter

Bell Helicopter Textron’s (Ft. Worth, Texas) 429 helicopter, first revealed in 2008, is targeted to individual, corporate and emergency-services customers.

Sustainability 17 Apr 2009

Thermoplastic catamaran highlights plastic waste recycling

This month, adventurer David de Rothschild and a crew that will include several scientists will set sail on a 60-ft/18.5m catamaran, dubbed Plastiki, made entirely of postconsumer plastic bottles in various forms.

Cutting/Kitting 17 Apr 2009

CNC routers optimize cooling tower build

Although cooling towers traditionally have been made with wood and concrete, composite materials are gaining acceptance due to their corrosion and rot resistance, light weight and ease of installation.

Wind/Energy 14 Apr 2009

The color purple: The "no complaints" movement

So, I finally heard about the “no complaints” movement the other day, which involves wearing a rubberized purple bracelet and switching it from one wrist to the other whenever one utters a negative word.

Pultrusion 25 Mar 2009

Mining the potential of polyurethane composites

Pultruded rollers for mine conveyors outperform steel and portend a huge new market.

Infusion 27 Feb 2009

Cost- and time-saving preform process used for propeller spinner

Carbon fiber/epoxy spinner uses pulp slurry preforming process combined with vacuum infusion molding.

Space 27 Feb 2009

Composites employed for thermal insulation in space observatories

NASA’s Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), launched in October 2006, is expected to provide a revolutionary view of our solar system.

Braiding 19 Feb 2009

Pultruding cost out of aerospace parts

Design-for-manufacturing effort proves to be cost-effective for carbon/epoxy airfoil on expendable UAV.

Thermoplastics 27 Jan 2009

One-piece molded truck body uses customized resin formulation

When General Motors Corp. (Flint, Mich. ) opted to update its small Astro cargo van in 2007 concurrent with the introduction of new Colorado and Canyon light truck platforms, customers talked and GM listened.

Adhesives 27 Jan 2009

Composites help create "ghostly" sculpture of bygone time

Sculptor Lawrence Argent of Argent Studios Ltd. (Denver, Colo. ) recently completed another of his several Denver-area public art installations, an internally illuminated, translucent composite sculpture called Ghost Trolley.

Out of Autoclave 21 Jan 2009

Low-cost methods realize high-concept Superbus

Multifunctional mass-transport vehicle concept takes shape via resin-infused carbon/epoxy and vacuum-formed glass-reinforced thermoplastic sandwich construction.