Defense

Carbon Fibers 5 Dec 2022

Montana State researchers introduce novel method for “stretch-broken” carbon fiber

New stretch-breaking concept consistently produces carbon fiber that is eight times more formable with strength equivalent to continuous fibers, enhancing its prospects to form to complex aircraft shapes and cut manufacturing costs.

Aerospace 10 Nov 2022

FAA releases final report for Advanced Materials and Processes Survey for AAM, UAS

Proposed research authored by WSU-NIAR and Mississippi State Advanced Composites Institute offers techniques to identify, assess and understand composites and other materials use in aviation applications.

Aerospace 28 Oct 2022

Rockwood Composites to quadruple capacity with new U.K. facility, subsidiary in Morocco

U.K. composite components manufacture will transition from 5,000 to more than 30,000 square meters of facility space, with additional growth in end market services and skilled engineers.

Bonding/Welding 17 Oct 2022

Collins Aerospace selected by AFRL to build thermoplastic composite fin for F-16

Part of $100 million, five-year investment to advance, qualify thermoplastic composites for military and commercial aero applications.

Additive Manufacturing 7 Oct 2022

Fortify ships Flux Core 3D printer to Ierus Technologies

Novel radio-frequency structures for defense systems are to be designed for and built via Fortify’s Flux Core composite-photopolymer 3D printer.

Carbon Fibers 6 Oct 2022

Toray Composite Materials America to double Torayca T1100 production capacity

The upgrade to the company’s Decatur, Alabama, carbon fiber plant is set to begin April 2023 in order to support rising demand in defense applications.

Defense 23 Sep 2022

Boeing reveals new Advanced Composite Fabrication Center

First of new purpose-built innovative defense factories based in Mesa, Ariz., U.S., will produce advanced composite components, leverage Industry 4.0 best practices from recent programs.

Defense 23 Sep 2022

GA-ASI establishes Additive Design and Manufacturing Center of Excellence

New Center focuses on AM applications, R&D, large-scale tooling and next-generation flight hardware to streamline UAS manufacturing.

Materials Testing 19 Sep 2022

UTA research builds predictive tool to determine failure risk, operating life of composites

UT Arlington, AFRL solution will use machine learning and computational tools to determine the life, durability and safety of composites used in aircraft manufacturing.