Weaving
Structural preform technologies emerge from the shadows
Not yet in full production, with one exception, all are aimed at accelerating composite part manufacture at fast automotive rates.
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Wind blades: Pi preforms increase shear web failure load
Easily coinfused structural joint increases ultimate strength and fatigue life, offering solutions for designers as blades get longer and move offshore.
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Maximum thrills: Minimal tools
Water slide manufacturer’s disastrous fire loss opens door to a closed molding process that reduces the number — and cost — of production molds, promising future gain.
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Manhole covers: Composites replace cast iron on university campus
Traditional cast-iron manhole covers are replaced on a college campus with composite versions manufactured by Fibrelite Composites (Skipton, North Yorkshire, U.K., and Pawcatuck, Conn.).
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Tailored Fiber Placement: Besting metal in volume production
Affordable automated production of highly optimized preforms and parts.
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Paris Air Show 2013: A century of aircraft progress
Torrential rains couldn’t dampen the spirit of innovation or stop the flood of business aerospace announcements.
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Formula 1 team optimizes car design-to-build process
FEA-to-CAD translation tool opens doors to cross-department communication and frees up time for R&D and test-piece manufacture.
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Additives and modifiers: Matrix optimization
New and reengineered modifiers for thermosets and thermoplastics target previously elusive goals in composites processing and performance.
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Fiber sizings: Coupling agent companions
Although the primary function of sizing is to protect the fiber from abrasion damage by acting as a dry lubricant during processing functions such as weaving, sizing expert Andy Brink, business development manager at Michelman SARL (Cincinnati, Ohio), says sizings on reinforcements used in composites also contribute to adhesion at the fiber/resin interface.
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Revisioning the Viper: Clamshell hood challenge
Autoclave-cured carbon-fiber prepreg hood/fender combo proves as technically formidable as it is visually stunning.
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