Out of Autoclave
Composites, chemistry and science
I met a guy in bar. We started talking composites. I learned some important things.
Read MoreIBEX 2007 Breaks Boat Show Record
In Miami Beach, IBEX, with 900 exhibitors, produces its — and the world's — largest boatbuilding event.
Read MoreFriction products: Carbon fiber stopping power
Low weight, thermal shock resistance, and extreme strength drive growth of carbon-reinforced friction products and materials in brake applications.
Read MoreResin infusion processes
Ever-increasing demand for faster production rates has pressed the industry to replace hand layup with alternative fabrication processes and has encouraged fabricators to automate those processes wherever possible. A common alternative is resin transfer molding (RTM), sometimes referred to as liquid molding. RTM is a
Read MoreTooling considerations
The molds used for forming composites, also known as tools, can be made from virtually any material. For parts cured at ambient or low temperature, or for prototyping, where tight control of dimensional accuracy isn't required, materials such as fiberglass, high-density foams, machinable epoxy "boards"or even clay or
Read MoreHigh-volume molding methods
Compression molding is a high-volume thermoset molding process that employs expensive but very durable metal dies. It is an appropriate choice when production quantities exceed 10,000 parts. As many as 200,000 parts can be turned out on a set of forged steel dies, using sheet molding compound (SMC), a composite sheet
Read MoreCritical fiber sizing
To achieve desirable properties in composite components, adhesion between fiber and matrix must be optimized. Adhesion requires sufficient saturation with resin (wetout) at the fiber/matrix interface. To ensure good adhesion, attention must be given to fiber surface preparation, such as the use of a surface finish or
Read MoreFabrication methods
The most basic fabrication method for thermoset composites is hand layup, which typically consists of laying dry plies or prepreg plies by hand onto a tool to form a laminate stack. Resin is applied to the dry plies after layup is complete (e.g., by means of resin infusion) or, in a variation known as wet layup, each
Read MoreHigh-performance fibers
High-strength fibers used in advanced composites include not only carbon, glass and aramid, but high-modulus polyethylene (PE), boron, quartz, ceramic, newer fibers such as poly p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole (PBO), and hybrid combinations, as well. The basic fiber forms for high-performance composite applications
Read MoreResin matrices: Thermoset or thermoplastic
Polyurethane resins are available in both thermoset and thermoplastic formulations. Thermoset polyurethanes are used to pultrude tough new parts, such as marine sheet piling and electrical power poles, and to enhance the rigidity of automotive bumper fascias made by reaction injection molding (RIM; for information
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