National Composites Week: How composites protect us
As we celebrate National Composites Week, here’s a look at some of the ways composites keeping us safe.
Carbon fiber-intensive F-35 fighter. Source | Lockheed Martin
National Composites Week is a great time to reflect on many of the ways composites are used to protect us or keep us safe. From fire-retardant materials used in architecture and the transportation industry to defense applications, composites have the ability to provide strength, stiffness, durability and corrosion resistance combined with safety considerations.
SAERTEX LEO coated fabric meets even exterior burn-through requirements for rail floors via an intumescent material which creates an insulating foam when exposed to fire. Source | SAERTEX
Here are a few stories CW has reported on in the past few months that illustrate some of the ways composites contribute to keeping us safe.
- Withstanding fire without the weight
- Tecnofire adds fire resistance to transportation and infrastructure applications
- Fire retardant prepregs enable Museum of the Future's 3D façade panels
- F-35 fleet surpasses 200,000 flight hours, 400th F-35 delivered
- Ballistic panels protect school
- Plant tour: Meggitt San Diego, CA, US
- GKN Aerospace thermoplastic composites featured on Bell V-280 Valor
About National Composites Week
National Composites Week was organized and launched by braiding specialist A&P Technology (Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.), global advanced composites company Hexcel (Stamford, Conn., U.S.) and ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ to celebrate the myriad ways that composite materials and composites manufacturing contributes to the products and structures that shape the American manufacturing landscape today.
Go to for more information, and to download a Host Guide, a sample press release, a sample letter to the editor and other templates designed to help participants develop and execute events and outreach at their facilities. Use the hashtag #NationalCompositesWeek during the week to join the celebration!
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