Processes

Design/Simulation 1 Mar 2003

Complex Composites Lighten Nato Copter

Dutch consortium develops advanced composite critical landing gear that meets NH90 helicopter performance requirements.

Out of Autoclave 1 Mar 2003

New Options In Personal Ballistic Protection

Emerging materials and processing techniques expand choices for manufacturers of vests, helmets and shields.

Aerospace 1 Mar 2003

Improving Autoclave Performance

Precision process controls optimize quality of autoclave-cured parts.

NDI 1 Mar 2003

Experienced Aerospace Manufacturer Relies On Proven Methods

Composite Structures LLC employs metal bond techniques for high-performance aircraft and rotorcraft components.

Infusion 1 Mar 2003

Foam plays strategic role in rotorcraft structure

Eurocopter's Tiger helicopter incorporates an engine cowling stiffened with hat stringers made with ROHACELL XT polymethacrylimide (PMI) foam from Degussa Performance Plastics (Darmstadt, Germany). Previously, the approximately 1.5m/4.8-ft long and 0.8m/2.6-ft wide cowling was a solid laminate made with bismaleimide

Pultrusion 1 Feb 2003

New Lightweight Trailer Delivers Heavy-duty Performance

All-composite chassis and trailer design offers truckers increased cargo capacity plus greater durability.

Injection/Overmolding 1 Feb 2003

Multishell process streamlines intake manifold

Mann + Hummel Automotive Inc. (Bloomfield Hills, Mich., U.S.A.) recently reengineered its production process for the air intake manifold on General Motors' four-cylinder, 2.2-liter Ecotec engine, replacing lost-core molding techniques with faster, less expensive "multishell" technology. Mann + Hummel now injection

Infusion 1 Feb 2003

Big Blades Cut Wind Energy Cost

Rapid growth rate of composite-intensive conversion systems drives market competition and innovation.

1 Jan 2002

Studies Support Viability Of Composites

Numerous studies have compared the performance and cost of steel and composite tendons. Conoco, Norske Conoco A/S (NCAS) and KOP headed several projects to qualify composite TLP tethers prior to launching a full sea test. In a recent study, they compared steel and composite TLP systems in water depths up to 9,

1 Jan 2002

A Different, All-Composite Approach

Fiberglass Structural Engineering Inc. (FSE, Bellingham, Wash., U.S.A.) has patented its innovative concept for a hybrid fiberglass and steel platform. Approximately 50 percent of the volume of a conventional steel spar hull would be replaced by hollow filament-wound Eglass and vinyl ester tubes, from 10 ft to

Toray Advanced Composites hi-temperature materials