Reinforcements
Time for a new "SACMA"
American Fiber Manufacturers Assn. president Paul O’Day says it’s high time for a new “SACMA.”
Read More
Supply and demand, redux
HPC editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan says carbon fiber producers and users need to re-associate.
Read More
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.
Read More
Out-of-autoclave prepregs: Hype or revolution?
Oven-cured, vacuum-bagged prepregs show promise in production primary structures.
Read More
GKN A350 spar program update
Automated fiber placement to replace established tape laying/drape forming process for the composite rear spars on the new midsize commercial passenger jet.
Read More
Drag racing champ wins with composite rear wing
A composite rear wing assembly built by Aerodine Composites Group (Indianapolis, Ind.) was critical to 2010 NHRA Full Throttle Drag Racing Series champion Larry Dixon’s effort at the wheel of the Al-Anabi Top Fuel dragster.
Read More
CFRP upgrades economy seating
First aircraft seat to use visible CFRP revolutionizes aesthetics and comfort.
Read More
Maintaining fiber length in complex 3-D designs
Award-winning composite pallet showcases new LFT molding process from South Africa.
Read More
