Work In Progress Column
PUR composite sandwich panels for 3D automotive parts, high-volume panels and more
At its U.S. sites, Ascorium produces glass fiber/PUR 3D parts via semi-automated molding, high-volume flat panels via a continuous line while working toward bio-based PUR and recycling.
Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld
Streamlining aerospace composites operations with RFID tracking
Tier 1 Sekisui Aerospace’s implementation of RFID tracking, sensors and Xemelgo software at two of its production facilities led to increased productivity, eliminating bottlenecks and reducing labor costs.
Read MoreCo-molding SMC with braided glass fiber demonstrates truck bed potential
Prepreg co-molding compound by IDI Composites International and A&P Technology enables new geometries and levels of strength and resiliency for automotive, mobility.
Read MoreLow-cost, efficient CFRP anisogrid lattice structures
CIRA uses patented parallel winding, dry fiber, silicone tooling and resin infusion to cut labor for lightweight, heavily loaded space applications.
Read MoreUltra-thin woven fabric enables 90% resource reduction in satellite solar array manufacturing
Kerberos Engineering uses TeXtreme 0/90 woven fabrics for satellite solar array manufacturing, cutting weight and onboard resources, enhancing structural integrity and streamlining production.
Read MoreActive core molding: A new way to make composite parts
Koridion expandable material is combined with induction-heated molds to make high-quality, complex-shaped parts in minutes with 40% less material and 90% less energy, unlocking new possibilities in design and production.
Read MoreLaser-excited acoustics provide contact-free, nondestructive composites inspection
Xarion’s couplant-free NDT technology uses laser physics and a membrane-free optical microphone, eliminating the requirement for fluid coupling, widening the scope for NDT technology.
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Evolving natural fiber technology to meet industry sustainability needs
From flax fiber composite boats to RV exterior panels to a circularity model with partnerships in various end markets, Greenboats strives toward its biomaterials and sustainable composites vision in an ever-changing market.
Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld
Reinforcing hollow, 3D printed parts with continuous fiber composites
Spanish startup Reinforce3D’s continuous fiber injection process (CFIP) involves injection of fibers and liquid resin into hollow parts made from any material. Potential applications include sporting goods, aerospace and automotive components, and more.
Read MoreFilament winding increases access to high-performance composite prostheses
Steptics industrializes production of CFRP prostheses, enabling hundreds of parts/day and 50% lower cost.
Read MoreAutomated robotic NDT enhances capabilities for composites
Kineco Kaman Composites India uses a bespoke Fill Accubot ultrasonic testing system to boost inspection efficiency and productivity.
Read MoreMeasuring energy use to enable sustainable composites production
Airbus subsidiary CTC uses new technology to measure energy use in machine components and processes to optimize equipment, production lines and guide decisions for future composites.
Read MoreDemonstrator project targets circularity solutions in carbon fiber composite sports equipment
The Carbon Fibre Circular Alliance (CFCA) brought together OEMs and technical partners to reclaim short carbon fibers from end-of-life sports equipment, realign into continuous prepreg tapes and remanufacture into new equipment.
Read MoreUpdate: THOR project for industrialized, recyclable thermoplastic composite tanks for hydrogen storage
A look into the tape/liner materials, LATW/recycling processes, design software and new equipment toward commercialization of Type 4.5 tanks.
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Bladder-assisted compression molding derivative produces complex, autoclave-quality automotive parts
HP Composites’ AirPower technology enables high-rate CFRP roof production with 50% energy savings for the Maserati MC20.
Stewart Mitchell
Contributing Writer
Innovation in ultrasonic inspection and nondestructive testing
With increasingly complex structural components working their way into aerospace programs, the need for versatility in inspection and testing capabilities is growing.
Read MoreManufacturing tech for scalable Type V hydrogen tank fabrication, CFRP lifecycle management
Cygnet Texkimp’s Multi Roll Stack and composite recycling technology catalyze ASCEND program’s mission to optimize aerospace, automotive hydrogen storage and CFRP sustainability.
Read MoreThe potential for thermoplastic composite nacelles
Collins Aerospace draws on global team, decades of experience to demonstrate large, curved AFP and welded structures for the next generation of aircraft.
Read MoreThermoplastic composite, tube-shaped preforms for large-volume manufacturing
Starting with the sporting goods and bicycle market, French startup 3DiTex targets its continuous preforming system for thermoformable, thermoplastic composite tubes in complex geometries.
Read MoreInfinite Composites: Type V tanks for space, hydrogen, automotive and more
After a decade of proving its linerless, weight-saving composite tanks with NASA and more than 30 aerospace companies, this CryoSphere pioneer is scaling for growth in commercial space and sustainable transportation on Earth.
Read MoreType V pressure vessel enables lunar lander
Exploratory IM-1 lunar landing mission to feature a unique, all-composite unibody Type V pressure vessel designed for cryogenic propulsion.
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Composite SIPs for more affordable, efficient and sustainable buildings
LiteSIP panels and modules enable framing in days, cutting structural labor and total cost by up to 70% and 30%, respectively, while increasing energy efficiency and durability.
Ginger Gardiner
Senior Technical Editor, CompositesWorld
Composite molding compound replaces Invar for lightweight small satellite structures
Patz Materials and Technologies and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory developed a new monolithic optics housing with 80% less weight, near-zero CTE and the high-volume manufacturing required for commercial space.
Read MoreEngine vane demonstrates potential for gapped, unidirectional dry fiber for infusion
GKN Aerospace and its partners developed an aircraft demonstrator component made with TeXtreme’s latest Gapped UD material, proving out a dry, infusible tape meant to compare in performance to UD prepreg.
Read MoreModular, robotic cells enable high-rate RTM using any material format
Airborne’s automated ply placement systems at Airbus, GKN Aerospace and Teijin Automotive Technologies aim to maximize flexibility and intelligent automation.
Read MoreDrag-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 MoreLarge-diameter composite pipe repairs Detroit sewage system
QuakeWrap's 16-foot-diameter FRP pipes will transfer more than half of Detroit's sewage from a pump station.
Read MoreUltra-lightweight skis demonstrate potential of graphene-reinforced composites
With a graphene additive, Folsom Custom Skis evolved and optimized the material makeup of its carbon fiber composite touring skis for higher performance at a lighter weight.
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