REGULATION

Construction

Composites end markets: Civil infrastructure (2023)

Growth and potential grow for wider composites adoption in bridges, rebar and other concrete reinforcement and other infrastructure applications and repair.

Hannah Mason
Technical Editor, CompositesWorld

Composite resins price change report

CW’s running summary of resin price change announcements from major material suppliers that serve the composites manufacturing industry.

RTM

Materials & Processes: Fabrication methods

There are numerous methods for fabricating composite components. Selection of a method for a particular part, therefore, will depend on the materials, the part design and end-use or application. Here's a guide to selection.

Defense

Lockheed Martin terminates agreement to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne amid regulatory roadblocks

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission blocked the aerospace, arms and defense corporation over antitrust concerns in January.

Defense

Permali develops fire-resistant systems for naval vessels

Permali has developed Permaglass XGR2/4, a new specialist fire-resistant composite material grade that passes strict Ministry of Defence regulations.

Aerospace

Meggitt considers options for Parker-Hannifin and TransDigm Group acquisition proposals

Soon after reaching an agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition with Parker-Hannifin, aerospace tier Meggitt received an unsolicited proposal from TransDigm Group with its own cash offer. Meggitt is currently reviewing its options.

Marine

GreenLight project explores fire-resistant and bio-based FRPs for structural lightweight design in ships

Project leader Fraunhofer IFAM and six associated partners to study FRPs such as polybenzoxazine- and benzoxazine-based composite materials to meet strict safety regulations, requirements on passenger ships.

Carbon Fibers

The state of recycled carbon fiber

As the need for carbon fiber rises, can recycling fill the gap?

Scott Francis
Contributing Editor, CompositesWorld

Glass Fibers

Composite thermal breaks boost window insulation value

The composite insulation systems used in windows to insulate building interiors, while rarely seen, are vital to sustainable and efficient residential and commercial construction.

Marine

Impact tests on RAMSSES ship hull demonstrator show resilience of composites

Damen Shipbuilding and project consortium partners test 6-meter-high, resin-infused composite hull section.

Automotive

ALMA project pursues the path to electromobility with advanced materials, processes

European consortium to develop BEV structure with 45% weight reduction via a multimaterial, modular e-vehicle platform for more energy-efficient and sustainable vehicles.

PAL-V and EASA finalize first flying car certification

After 10 years of testing, the Dutch company completes full certification basis with EU’s aviation regulator and opens path to commercialization.

Aerospace

EHang to demonstrate eVTOL medical air mobility via SAFIR-Med project

Project intends to demonstrate AAV use cases for emergency medical transport, and potentially advance and refine current U-space services for unmanned aircraft in European airspace.

Carbon Fibers

Bercella develops carbon fiber monocoque for Hypercar model racer

Carbon fiber chassis, FIAS and RIAS will ensure the SCG 007 racer’s compliance with new power and weight regulations for its participation in the 2021 Le Mans 24 Hours race.

Molds/Tools

Materials & Processes: Tooling for composites

Composite parts are formed in molds, also known as tools. Tools can be made from virtually any material. The material type, shape and complexity depend upon the part and length of production run. Here's a short summary of the issues involved in electing and making tools.

Staff

Testing

FACC begins EHang 216 flight tests

The successful autonomous aerial vehicle flight test earns an experimental flight permit offered by Austrian aviation authorities for future flight test execution.

Automotive

Hybrid electric vehicle market report indicates steady, upward growth

As carbon dioxide emission regulations become stricter across the world, HEV sales show an increasingly upward trend, with expectations to peak at $792 billion by 2027.

Development of ASTM standards for composites: An insider’s perspective

According to Dan Adams’ inside perspective, two elements determine whether a proposed test method for composite materials becomes an ASTM standard.

Aerospace

EconCore, Toray and Bostik collaborate on FST-qualified thermoplastic honeycomb panels

Developed for mass transportation applications, including aircraft interiors, the material improves upon the cost, sustainability and versatility of conventional sandwich layup.

Automotive

McLaren, Bcomp use natural composite fibers in F1 racing seat

The flax fibers meet strength and stiffness requirements while reducing vibration, cost, enhancing safety and lowering its CO2 footprint by 75%.

Aerospace

EHang 216 AAV obtains Special Flight Operations Certificate

The certificate issued by the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) will enable routine trial flights in Québec, Canada.

Fabrics/Preforms

Materials & Processes: Fibers for composites

The structural properties of composite materials are derived primarily from the fiber reinforcement. Fiber types, their manufacture, their uses and the end-market applications in which they find most use are described.

Staff

Epoxies

The industrialization of thermoplastic epoxy

Fast-processing composites that are strong yet tough, thermoformable, reformable, recyclable and even FST-compliant save cost in aircraft and rail equipment.

Automotive

The untapped potential in Formula 1 composite manufacture

Formula 1’s midfield teams are struggling to bridge the gap to their better resourced frontrunning counterparts. Could Industry 4.0 composites manufacturing automation level the playing field?

Aerospace

Electric short takeoff & landing aircraft addresses e-commerce needs

California-based Airflow's eSTOL aircraft promises cost-effective, rapid delivery of cargo within a distance range of 50-200 miles.

Automotive

German racing series shifts to natural fiber application

German racing series DTM says the shift away from carbon fibers will be more cost-efficient, improve lightweighting and reduce the organization’s ecological footprint.

Carbon Fibers

Carbon fiber-reinforced concrete accelerates in Germany

TU Dresden and C3 – Carbon Concrete Composite demonstrator aims to reduce concrete material use by 50% and CO2 emissions by up to 70%; Hitexbau touts high-volume automated production for carbon fiber textile grids.

CAMX Expo

Episode 32: Gregg Balko, SAMPE

CW Talks catches up with Gregg Balko, CEO of SAMPE since 2004, before his retirement on July 1, 2020.

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