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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.

Second U.S. facility and several new supplier facilities are intended to build economic, employment and environmental sustainability in the U.S.

The company aims to grow product portfolio and market for wind energy technologies such as a modular blade joint and foundation solution.

Easy-to-apply, fast-curing, hard-wearing Belzona 5711 directly overcoated with Belzona 5721 optimizes onshore and offshore wind blade leading-edge repair and protection across a broad temperature range.

CAMX 2023: Humm3 technology is a broadband flash lamp heat source for AFP, ATL, filament winding and more composite applications, delivering power previously only available from lasers.

The filament winding expert’s new design is adaptable to individual requirements, is suitable for a variety of component applications and offers additional options for process data acquisition.

Automotive and filament winding experts at Voith Composites showcased their Type IV hydrogen storage tanks at JEC 2023. These 350-liter pressure vessels, manufactured with recycled carbon fiber, are primarily designed for heavy-duty vehicles.

AMD is developing composites incorporating nanoscale Radar Absorbing Materials (nRAM) to mitigate radio frequency absorption, with early success in wind turbine blades.

Compared to 2022, an increase of 12.8% in unaudited net sales is led by positive sales in Composite Materials, Kitting and Manufacturing Solutions, as well as a noticeable uptick in wind, marine and industrial markets.

A cross-sector consortium has been brought together to demonstrate the relevance of thermoplastic wind turbine blades, with an eco-design approach to facilitate recycling.

The company anticipates that its Cavorite X5 hybrid eVTOL will be ready for full-scale flight tests in 2025.