How are composites used in sporting goods?

Carbon fiber composite bicycle frames are the highest-profile application of composites in sporting goods – but they have also long been used in high-performance fishing rods, tennis rackets, skis, surfboards and more. Protective equipment such as helmets, or high-performance athletic shoes, can also be made with composite materials. Source: Composites end markets: Sports and recreation

How are composites used in consumer electronics?

Composites are often used under the cover of consumer electronics, such as for components in circuit boards. Composites have also been trialed for lightweight, high-performance laptop and phone covers and other applications. Source: Composites end markets: Electronics

How are carbon fiber composite bikes manufactured?

Today, many carbon fiber composite bike frames are fabricated and shipped from fabricators in Asian countries, largely incorporating labor-intensive hand layup processes with carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy prepreg. Efforts are being made to develop more bicycle manufacturing in the U.S. and Europe, including more automated processes and thermoplastic materials, or even 3D printing. Source: Cycling forward with bike frame materials and processes

CONSUMER

Carbon Fibers

Arris Composites wins 2023 BIG Innovation Award

The composites manufacturer is recognized for the third year in a row, spotlighting next-gen carbon fiber plates for running shoes.

Grace Nehls
Managing Editor, CompositesWorld

Consumer

Babyark launches smart, composites-intensive car seat

Impact-absorbing car seat approaches safety holistically with carbon fiber and D3O materials and embedded sensors for real-time monitoring.

Carbon Fibers

We Are One announces new Convergence carbon fiber rims, wheels

Boston Materials ZRT composite films are featured in the twisted-shape bicycle rim, enhancing strength, durability and light weight.

Consumer

Limited edition watch features carbon fiber case produced by 9T Labs

Using its Additive Fusion Technology, 9T Labs mass produced 1,000 units of the watch case from continuous carbon fiber-reinforced PEKK, achieving a strong, ultralight, aesthetic product.
#continuousfiberAM

Carbon Fibers

Digital Demo: UV-Cured Powder Coating on Carbon Fiber

Keyland Polymer's R&D chemist will demonstrate the UV powder coating application process followed by UV curing on a carbon fiber water bottle holder. (Sponsored)

Greener camping: Sonic X breaks barriers

Prototype travel trailer generates excitement, leads to new commercial models.
#sustainability #weaving #marketing

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Consumer |

Composites end markets: Electronics (2023)

Increasingly, prototype and production-ready smart devices featuring thermoplastic composite cases and other components provide lightweight, optimized sustainable alternatives to metal.
#Basics #sourcebook #feature

Hannah Mason Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Videos / Podcasts

thermoplastic waste for composite athletic shoes

Consumer

Athletic shoe developed with repurposed thermoplastic waste

April 15, 2022 - 12:00 AM EST

Manufactured via a single-step molding process, Decathlon’s Traxium Compressor soccer cleats propel the sporting goods market toward more recyclable solutions.
#sustainability #application

Carbon Fibers

SNO-GO ski bikes increase performance, reduce weight with carbon fiber components

February 16, 2022 - 12:00 PM EST

Engineered with articulated rear skis for more control and accessibility, SNO-GO’s new hexagon-shaped carbon fiber components reduce weight and increase performance.

Consumer

Carbon Mobile relocates smartphone production to Germany

September 13, 2021 - 8:00 AM EST

Carbon Mobile’s Carbon 1 MK II, a carbon fiber, plastic-neutral smartphone, aims to close the gap on e-waste.
#electronics #sustainability

Testing

NTU Singapore, Arkema manufacture carbon fiber helmets using Elium resin

July 30, 2021 - 11:53 AM EST

Carbon fiber reinforcement increases stiffness, toughness of the helmet’s outer shell and allows it to absorb more impact energy over a longer period.

Consumer

Solution-based digital composites fabrication

July 23, 2021 - 5:00 AM EST

MIT evolves liquid biomaterials into a new approach for sustainable engineered composite structures.
#feature #sustainability

Consumer

Z-direction composite properties on an affordable, industrial scale

April 20, 2021 - 6:00 AM EST

Boston Materials uses milled reclaimed carbon fibers to increase modulus, impact/delamination resistance and produce metals-like conductivity for EMI shielding, lightning strike protection, heat exchangers and more.
#trends #electronics #electricvehicles

Prepregs

CompPair closes seed funding to advance composite self-healing technology

March 25, 2021 - 11:00 AM EST

EPFL spin-off company has launched HealTech which repairs composite damage in one minute by applying heat.
#repair

Consumer |

Composites end markets: Sports and recreation (2023)

Interest in higher performance and more sustainability drive new composite materials innovations in sporting goods and other consumer products.
#sourcebook #feature #multitudeofmarkets

Hannah Mason Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Consumer

D-Fly launches Dragonfly electric hyperscooter

The electric scooter, available in urban or offroad models, features a carbon fiber composite deck for stability and control.

Consumer

Solico composite engineers bring comfort, flexibility to new Axile Bionics ankle prosthetic

Lunaris is Solico’s first medical prosthesis design, using advanced composite components to reduce weight and outer dimensions, and enhance wearability.
#trends

Consumer

Rheon Labs successfully completes reactive fiber collaboration trials with FET

Under an Innovate UK Smart Grant-backed project, Rheon is developing a hyper-viscoelastic textile fiber that can actively absorb, dampen and control energy during movement.

Carbon Fibers

Mubea to collaborate on production of carbon fiber exoskeletons

Automotive supplier Mubea has entered into an agreement with robotic exoskeleton producer German Bionic on production of Cray X carbon fiber composite power suits.

Consumer

Furniture designer incorporates Bcomp natural fibers into luxury REI chair

Tras, a Japanese design and manufacturing studio, draws from decades of composites work in motorsport to develop the sustainable ampliTEX-based chair.

Carbon Fibers

McLaren, APL unveil high-performance athletic footwear brand

The all-purpose luxury composite footwear, inspired by McLaren supercars, presents a new silhouette, a three-piece segmented midsole and a carbon fiber plate.

Aerospace |

JEC World 2022, Part 2: Recycling, natural fibers and additive manufacturing

CW associate editor Hannah Mason recaps several technologies seen on display at JEC World 2022, including new developments from Bcomp, Massivit 3D, Gen 2 Carbon and more.
#sustainability

Hannah Mason Technical Editor, CompositesWorld