Autoclave
Structural adhesives, Part II: Aerospace
Tried-and-true legacy epoxies are a must for aerospace composites, but usage is increasing with improved forms.
Read MoreThe emerging commercial space industry
A decade since NASA opened extraterrestrial space to potential use as a commercial industry workplace, CW traces the role composites have played in public/private progress toward that goal.
Read MoreAirbus Helicopters verify performance of 410km/h Clean Sky 2 demonstrator
X3-based, compound VTOL airframe configuration nears final design but exact use of composites yet to be detailed
Read MoreMS-21 OOA wing and wing box near first flight
Irkut Corp. rolled out the MS-21 single-aisle commercial aircraft on June 8, and we were reminded of its remarkable novelty: It features the first out-of-autoclave composite wing and wing box.
WatchOrthopedics: Carbon foam fosters bone growth
The Center of Innovation for Biomaterials in Orthopedic Research (CIBOR) at the National Institute for Aviation Research (Wichita, KS, US) has two patents on the use of carbon foam as a bone-graft material to improve success in orthopedic implants.
Read MorePixelated temperature control
Surface Generation is providing digital process control for composites molding that cuts energy use, cycle time and processing pressures while breaking boundaries in thickness, complexity and embedded elements.
Read MoreComposites manufacturing — where the excitement lives
A regular CW columnist and the chief commercialization officer for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI, Knoxville, TN, US), Dale Brosius points out that for today's engineering students, a Ph.D in manufacturing could open the door to an exciting, alternative career path.
Read MoreCarbon/epoxy Cadillac hood
Automated process for prepreg hood inner/outer cuts weight by 20% and yields Class A exterior out of the autoclave.
Read MoreUsing 3D printing for composite molds and tools: the trend continues
Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, is becoming more common in the aerospace tooling realm. Production tooling can be made quickly and on-demand, which helps the tooling industry keep pace with accelerating composite part design cycles and demand for faster overall part processing speeds.
Read More3-D printing autoclavable composite molds
The polymer additive manufacturing research team at the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reports that it has successfully fabricated autoclave-capable carbon fiber composite molds, manufactured using large-scale 3D printing/additive manufacturing.
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