Out of Autoclave
At NAIAS, composites not difficult to find
With CAFE requirements steadily increasing each year, en route to 54.5 mpg by 2025, automakers of all stripes are working composites into new and concept cars.
Read MoreRenegade Materials demonstrates OOA BMI in wing spar
Renegade Materials Corp. (Miamisburg, Ohio) has developed its RM-3004 out-of-autoclave (OOA) curable bismaleimide (BMI) prepreg for high-performance aerospace applications.
Read MoreBMI and benzoxazine battle for future OOA aerocomposites
Offering weight, cost and process advantages, these “hot zone” resins are moving down the thermometer and into out-of-autoclave structural applications and autoclavable tooling now dominated by epoxies.
Read MoreBenzoxazine: An alternative to phenolic for interior fire safety?
As research into benzoxazine resin chemistry proceeds, this budding high-performance system has the potential to challenge phenolic resins in aircraft interiors.
Read MoreResin-infused MS-21 wings and wingbox
Moscow-based aeromanufacturer uses out-of-autoclave composites in attempt to leapfrog Airbus and Boeing with wider, lighter, more efficient single-aisle airliner.
Read MoreRussian renaissance: Leading the OOA revolution?
Since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, one of the most remarkable results has been a resurgence in aeromanufacturing within the Russian Federation.
Read MoreHigh-speed RTM work cell holds promise for faster part production
Pinette Emidecau Inc. (Troy, Mich.) reports that it has developed an automated, high-speed RTM cell for aerospace and automotive manufacturing applications that is designed to increase molded part throughput and improve process consistency.
Read MoreCarbon stairs make boarding a sailing yacht a breeze
GMT Composites (Bristol, R.I.) makes lightweight but strong — typically carbon fiber — yacht-boarding systems that are easily moved and stowed.
Read MoreOut-of-autoclave manufacturing: The green solution
Regular HPC columnist Dale Brosius calls attention to the environmental benefits of out-of-autoclave processing.
Read MoreComposites repair
As more composite materials find a place on aircraft, boats, bridges and hundreds of other applications where part replacement is both difficult and expensive, OEM engineers are considering the repairability of structural and secondary composite components during the initial design phase of a project.
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