Materials
Composite tooling without oven or autoclave
No Oven No Autoclave technology has been demonstrated in tooling for NASA, including multiple thermal cycles and use for curing epoxy infused out-of-autoclave parts.
Read MoreComposites for repair (2015)
Composites now offer a cost-effective means repair and/or strengthen structures made of steel, concrete or other materials.
Read MorePart design criteria (2015)
Designers of composite parts can choose from a huge variety of fiber reinforcements and resin systems. That makes knowledge of how those materials work together a critically important aspect of part development. Here's a short description of what that knowledge entails.
Read MoreSupply and demand: Advanced fibers (2015)
Demand for advanced fiber, virgin and reclaimed, is on an upswing after a dip during the recent recession. Fiber suppliers are gearing up to meet an expected increase in demand as manufacturers in a number of composites end-markets scale up or start up part development and production programs.
Read MoreFiber reinforcement forms
Fibers used to reinforce composites are supplied directly by fiber manufacturers and indirectly by converters in a number of different forms, which vary depending on the application. Here's a guide to what's available.
Read MoreThe markets: Automotive (2015)
Composites — in particular, those reinforced with carbon fiber — continue to make headway into the automotive world, but suppliers of competing steel and aluminum are fighting back.
Read MoreThe matrix (2015)
The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here's a guide to selection.
Read MoreCarbon Fiber 2014: Will supply meet demand?
CompositesWorld’s Carbon Fiber 2014 conference (Dec. 9-11, 2014, in La Jolla, CA, US) had just kicked off as this issue went to press, but the CW staff captured the following highlights from day one of this annual event.
Read MoreMaking epoxy composites recyclable by design
Connora Technologies and Adesso Advanced Materials have garnered much attention for their hardeners which make epoxy resins recyclable, marketed as Recyclamine and Cleavamine, respectively.
Read MoreBenzoxazines for OOA tooling
Can infusible formulations of this newer resin system produce aerospace-capable tools?
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