Materials
Antiballistics: Better defense, less expense
Armor applications grow on the strength of new markets, new composite materials.
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Low-volume thermoplastics: Differential pressure molding
Cost-effective tooling and presses enable semi-automated prototyping and low-volume production of thermoplastic composites.
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Designing bicycling’s lightest pro racing frame
Cervélo’s Vroomen White Design group combines analysis and manufacturing acumen to create a 675g/1.5 lb composite frame.
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Cabin cruiser: Making the most of a mirror finish
The hull mirror-like gel coat finish on the Daedulus 30 cabin cruiser was achieved through a combination of Marine Concepts’ (Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, U.K.) mold design experience and fabrication techniques and materials provided by Scott Bader (Wollaston, Northamptonshire, U.K.).
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Bathware production: Feeder facilitates faster flow
Shower pans molder Just Trays Ltd. (Leeds, West Yorkshire) invests $1.6 million (USD) to improve its manufacturing processes, including the purchase of two of Model T5 Low Headroom Bulk Bag Dischargers from Spiroflow Ltd. (Clitheroe, Lancashire, U.K. and Monroe, N.C.).
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Time for a new "SACMA"
American Fiber Manufacturers Assn. president Paul O’Day says it’s high time for a new “SACMA.”
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Supply and demand, redux
HPC editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan says carbon fiber producers and users need to re-associate.
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Spread-tow fabrics reduce waveboard weight
Fanatic (Molln, Austria) recently introduced a new version of its windsurfing waveboard, called FreeWave TeXtreme, made with TeXtreme spread carbon tow fabric from Oxeon AB (Boras, Sweden).
Read MorePerformance requirements: CAI vs. OHC
John Russell, who manages nonautoclave research programs for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio), recently threw down the gauntlet at the Fall SAMPE conference in Salt Lake City, Utah: “Give us a 25 percent improvement in notch properties with no microcracking in high-modulus fibers.” While OOA prepreg suppliers can’t do much about fiber microcracking, Advanced Composites Group (ACG, Tulsa, Okla.) already has announced that its XMTM47 material will be commercial by next year, designed for 120°C/248°F service with the increased notched performance requested.
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Out-of-autoclave prepregs: Hype or revolution?
Oven-cured, vacuum-bagged prepregs show promise in production primary structures.
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