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High-pressure gas storage vessels represent one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for advanced composites, particularly for filament-wound carbon fiber composites. Although they are used in self-contained breathing apparatuses and provide oxygen and gas storage on aerospace vehicles, the primary end markets are for storage of liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

Filament winding is a specialized technique used in composite manufacturing, involving the precise and automated winding of continuous fibers onto a rotating mandrel or mold. This method allows for the creation of strong and seamless structures, optimizing the alignment and orientation of the fibers to meet specific design requirements. Filament winding is employed in producing cylindrical or conical composite parts, such as pipes, pressure vessels, and aerospace components, enabling engineers to tailor the strength, stiffness, and performance characteristics of the final product.

Processes in composites manufacturing encompass a diverse array of techniques employed to fabricate composite materials. These processes include methods like hand layup, where layers of resin and reinforcement materials are manually placed, and vacuum infusion, where a vacuum draws resin into a preform. Other techniques like compression molding, filament winding, and automated methods such as 3D printing are utilized to create intricate and specialized composite structures. Each process offers unique advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and efficiency, catering to diverse industry needs. As technology advances, newer methods are emerging, promising faster production cycles, reduced waste, and increased customization, driving the evolution of composite manufacturing towards more sophisticated and versatile methodologies.

The wind energy market has long been considered the world’s largest market, by volume, for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites — and increasingly, carbon fiber composites — as larger turbines and longer wind blades are developed, requiring higher performance, lighter weight materials. The outer skins of wind and tidal turbine blades generally comprise infused, GFRP laminates sandwiching foam core. Inside the blade, rib-like shear webs bonded to spar caps reinforce the structure. Spar caps are often made from GFRP or, as blade lengths lengthen, pultruded carbon fiber for additional strength.

Transition from offshore to onshore wind blade production will support the U.K.’s focus on building domestic supply chains, increasing demand.

Transformation of a 6-meter wind blade section into a 5-meter boat hull, demonstrates Resolve’s EOL recycled fiberglass processing capabilities using its ReceTT recycling process.

Researchers, led by Vipin Kumar, developed a low-cost, recyclable carbon fiber wind turbine blade tip that showed resilience to high-voltage lightning strikes, with more innovations in store.

Architect Jonas Lloyd is working with Vattenfall to design the multistory building with a wind blade façade, targeting eco-friendly buildings and creative ways to remove blades from landfills.

Global composite subsea buoyancy services are strengthened and broadened with Subsea Composite Solutions’ expertise.

While expected wind business revenue did not materialize for Q3 2024, Gurit is actively implementing measures to diversify its portfolio and position it for a wind sale increase in 2025.

The MySE18.X-20MW, located in China, becomes the largest single-capacity offshore wind turbine on the market.

NCC, BCI and Vestas have established the U.K. Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan, aiming to accelerate wind blade technology development and lower energy costs.

Latest Horizon Europe project seeks to introduce innovative circular resins combined with advanced disassembly strategies, enabling cost-effective blade decommissioning and material reuse.

Delivery of the single-spindle robotic setup with an ATP head will advance the R&D organization’s work in CUBIC, GENEX and Carbo4power initiatives targeting sustainable composites development.