Articles

Wind/Energy

Carbures: Conquering the world for composites

This global Tier 2 supplier produced 39,322 parts for Airbus in 2015, has sold seven RMCP machines to China capable of 40,000-75,000 composite auto parts/yr and is completing a study on opportunities for composites in oil and gas applications in Mexico. What next?

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Aerospace

LEAP backlog spurs composites production expansion

If some were unaware of the significance CFM International’s composites-intensive LEAP engine, there was no ignoring two announcements in February that signaled just how massive this commercial jet engine program is and will be.

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Aerospace

VBO prepreg on wing structure

GE Aviation scores first use of OOA wing trailing edge on large commercial aircraft.

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Out of Autoclave

Research on OOA processing continues

Much work has been done to make OOA processing practical for aerospace applications, but much work still remains if it is to become the compelling option.

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Aerospace

Dry fiber placement: Surpassing limits

Coriolis Composites’ automated aerostructures manufacturing using dry materials moves from development projects to production.

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PEEK

OOA: Thermoplastic alternative targets performance spec

CF/PEEK helicopter driveshaft’s toughness trumps traditional metric.

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Epoxies

VBO prepregs: The Vision SF50

OOA vacuum-bag-only process makes carbon fiber structures a reality for the world’s first personal jet.

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Aerospace

Resin transfer molding: An update

Fulfilling the promise of OOA composites without sacrificing pressure.

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Infusion

Resin infusion: Taking off?

Boeing Aerostructures Australia leads large-scale development of resin infusion as an industrial process.

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Autoclave

OOA overview: Market & opportunities

CW looks at where aero-OEMs and their suppliers are finding out-of-autoclave alternatives.

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Aerospace

Composites manufacturing from a different angle

A bunch of really smart engineers showed up in Long Beach, CA, US this week for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers’ (SME, Dearborn, MI, US) AeroDef conference and exhibition. All were focused on looking at ways to manufacture products — composite or not — more efficiently.

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Recycling

If we recycle it, will they come?

Thanks to the 787 and the A350 XWB aircraft programs, the composites industry has more scrap carbon fiber prepreg than it knows what to do with. At least, not yet.

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