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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.

The first quarter of 2020 saw U.S. wind project installations rise 117% compared to Q1 2019.

The EuCIA, Cefic and WindEurope recently released a joint report aimed to accelerate wind turbine blade recycling efforts.

Research project to demonstrate damage tolerance and impact resistance of composite parts manufactured with new multi-axis winder and 3D winding technologies for further development and commercialization.

Composite nacelle covers manufacturer is one of 22 GE Vernova supplier companies to have received the award in 2023, backed by delivery ramp up and expansion.

Twenty-five-month project to couple low-cost thermoplastic skin with AM for high-performance wind blade designs to be used on large rotors.

In this episode of CW Trending, Hexcel's Claude Despierres discusses current and future demands for composite materials, especially carbon fiber, in the wind energy industry, as well as supply, cost and performance of these materials in the hydrogen storage market.

Core materials suppliers lean into the bracing breeze of big-blade challenges raised by the burgeoning wind energy industry.

LOG Point Pallet fuses advanced materials with innovative design and manufacturing to improve supply chains worldwide.

Rigorous third-party certification process for Haliade-X has been successfully completed, making it what GE says is the largest wind turbine with a full type certification.

An autonomous, cobot-mounted inspection system combines Industry 4.0 with established ultrasonic technology to rapidly provide repeatable, accurate data and improve overall efficiency.