Materials

Workforce Development 3 Feb 2015

New hydraulic press for automated processing of thermoplastic CFRP

Wickert Presstech delivers new system to German Aerospace Center which reportedly can process all materials and uses latest in automated technology.

Molds/Tools 2 Feb 2015

Moldmaker bypasses patterns for high-tech production catamarans

Direct-to-milled-tool process simplifies large deck mold development.

Autoclave 2 Feb 2015

Exelis Aerostructures: Salt Lake City

Braided composite shafts and struts for aircraft are its specialty, but there’s much more to this Utah, US-based rising star.

Aerospace 1 Feb 2015

CFRP camera boom enables safe spill inspection

NONA Composites’ 32m REACH structure meets tight remediation schedule at DoE radioactive waste storage site.

Carbon Fibers 1 Feb 2015

Managing weight in emergency medical transport

Repetitive strain risk for first responders sends emergency equipment provider back to the drawing board to develop more ergonomic cot.

Pressure Vessels 1 Feb 2015

DuraStor/HOST participants

In 2010, a multi-partner, multi-year research program called Low Cost, Durable Thermoplastic Hydrogen Storage Tanks, or DuraStor, was formed to address these problems by investigating a drop-in replacement for Type IV tanks. A UK-only program called Hydrogen – Optimisation of Storage and Transfer (HOST) picked up where DuraStor left off in mid-2014. These were the participants.

Pressure Vessels 1 Feb 2015

Thermoplastic composite pressure vessels for FCVs

U.K. consortiums address durability, weight, cost of high-pressure tanks for hydrogen fuel-cell powered vehicles.

Adhesives 1 Feb 2015

New aerocomposites niche: Helicopter transmission gears?

A NASA study shows that steel/composite hybrid gears save significant weight, and could mitigate vibration-related noise.

Out of Autoclave 1 Feb 2015

Modeling and simulation: Is ICME the next composites breakthrough?

CompositesWorld columnist and composites industry consultant Dale Brosius encourages empirical learners (read "hands-on, trial-and-error old-timers") like himself to buy in and start using today's software-based design and simulation tools, which, he says, have the "potential to truly transform the composite industry."