Core Materials for Composites

Composite core materials serve as the central structural component in composite structures, providing stability, strength, and support while often contributing to the overall lightweight nature of the final product. These cores, typically made of materials like foam, honeycomb structures, or balsa wood, are sandwiched between layers of composite skins to form a composite panel. Their inherent properties—such as high strength-to-weight ratios, excellent insulation, and impact resistance—make them integral in various industries, including marine, aerospace, and construction, where weight reduction and structural integrity are paramount. The choice of core material plays a crucial role in determining the performance and characteristics of the composite structure.

Aviation-specific battery system uses advanced composites to address electric, hybrid flight
Carbon Fibers

Aviation-specific battery system uses advanced composites to address electric, hybrid flight

BOLDair’s composite enclosure, compression structures and thermal runaway management enables high-performance electric energy storage.

READ MORE
Wabash
Wickert Hydraulic Presses

Latest Core Articles

VIEW ALL
CAMX

Net-shape machining services available for structural foam core

CAMX 2024: In addition to its distribution of various product materials for the composites industry, Technology Marketing Inc. now assists in machined net-shaped Rohacell structural foam core to customer requirements.

Read More
Recycling

Fully recyclable sandwich panel targets aerospace cabin interiors

CAMX 2024: Diab introduces sandwich panels that combine its structural foam core Divinycell F and thermoplastic skins, designed to meet current challenges in sustainability, REACH compliancy and more.

Read More
Adhesives

Heat-activated foaming core rapidly achieves net-shape 3D parts

CAMX 2024: L&L Products exhibits its InsituCore foaming core structural technology, which can be used to create foam core composites minus machining or presses, as well as the Phaster XP K-700, a rapid-cure adhesive. 

Read More
Core

Rigid, unfaced foams support high core performance

CAMX 2024: Closed-cell Elfoam products offered by Elliott Co. of Indianapolis offer a number of benefits, making it flexible from large-volume to one-off composites projects. 

Read More
Aerospace

Airbus video highlights RACER compound helicopter first flight

Launched as part of a Clean Sky 2 program, a compound design — rotor, split fixed-wing, propulsive propellers — uses composites to cut fuel consumption and emissions by 20%.

Watch
Thermoplastics

HyWaSand demonstrates large-series production potential for automotive TP sandwich components

Storage compartment flap for truck interior produced via fully automated continuous fiber thermoplastic sandwich molding technology shows suitability for series manufacture.

Read More

Knowledge Centers

Sustainability
Sustainability

The composites industry is increasingly recognizing the imperative of sustainability in its operations. As demand for lightweight and durable materials rises across various sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, there is a growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with traditional composite manufacturing processes.

LEARN MORE
Design, Simulation and Testing Technologies for Next-Gen Composite Structures
Design, Simulation and Testing Technologies for Next-Gen Composite Structures

Review the state of the art in design, simulation, failure analysis, digital twins, virtual testing and virtual inspection.

LEARN MORE
Register now for the ITHEC 2024 conference!
HEATCON Composite Systems
Carbon Fiber 2024
Release agents and process chemical specialties
Advert for TFP nonwovens featuring AAM aircraft

Latest Core News And Updates

Aerospace

Rock West delivers high-precision composite support tube for particle detection

Large carbon fiber and honeycomb core component, known as the barrel timing layer (BLT) tracker support tube, was delivered to Purdue as part of an upgrade to CERN’s general-purpose proton-proton collision detector for space research.

Read More
Core

Ultra-light honeycomb blocks are engineered for application versatility

JEC World 2024: Schütz Composites introduces Cormaster, its line of aramid paper-based honeycomb materials suitable in many application fields as panels or parts.

Read More
Marine

Composites industry experts collaborate to address ISO 12215-5:2019 standard challenges

3A Composites Core Materials, STRUCTeam and Beneteau are working to rectify the shortcomings of core requirements of small marine craft in the 2019 framework, while exploring optimal design approaches with foam and balsa core materials.

Read More
Carbon Fibers

ATL Composites collaboration advances kite-foil board production for Paris Olympics

Breiana Whitehead, pioneering Australian kite-foil sailor, spearheads board design intricacies with ATL Composites to enhance her performance ahead of the July 2024 competition.

Read More
Core

Armacell improves rPET foam offerings with ArmaPET Struct GRX

Structural foam core entirely made from recycled plastic bottles imparts efficiency gains, cost optimization and a more sustainable outlook for sandwich structure production.

Read More
Core

Chomarat expands range of composite reinforcement options

Rovicore FM core and C-Weave Stabilized woven fabrics are designed to improve the quality and performance of composite materials.

Read More
CompositesWorld
CAMX 2024
Composites product design
Airtech
Composites product designs

Featured Posts

Feature

Bio-based, fire-resistant composites become mainstream

Projects use Duplicor prepreg panels with highest Euroclass B fire performance without fire retardants for reduced weight, CO2 footprint in sustainable yet affordable roofs, high-rise façades and modular housing.

Watch
Marine

Plant tour: BeSpline/Addcomp, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada

Composites automation specialist increases access to next-gen technologies, including novel AFP systems and unique 3D parts using adaptive molds.

Read More
Wind/Energy

Drag-based wind turbine design for higher energy capture

Claiming significantly higher power generation capacity than traditional blades, Xenecore aims to scale up its current monocoque, fan-shaped wind blades, made via compression molded carbon fiber/epoxy with I-beam ribs and microsphere structural foam.

Read More
Trends

A new generation of PP foam core for lightweight truck trailers, RVs

Extruded PP (XPP) foam core offers lightweight, high-performance monomaterial panels that are easily recycled for truck flooring, sidewalls or cabinet/furnitureboards as the transportation industry seeks a replacement for plywood.

Read More
Aerospace

Optimizing AFP for complex-cored CFRP fuselage

Automated process cuts emissions, waste and cost for lightweight RACER helicopter side shells.

Watch
Core

Prefabricated composite panels, joining system ease catamaran construction

New Zealand-based G&T Marine reduces assembly and construction time with ATL Composites’ composite DuFLEX panels.

Read More
CompositesWorld
MITO® Material Solutions
NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
Advert for lightweight carrier veils used in aero
CompositesWorld