CW Blog

Wind/Energy

Preforming goes industrial: Part 1

ATL and AFP-based preforming options now abound for processing dry and/or impregnated reinforcements as quickly as 1 minute or less with potential yearly part yields in the millions.

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Recycling

Composites recycling is gaining traction

Although CW’s coverage of composites recycling dates back over a decade, informal statistics still show that only ~2% of composites-related companies are active recyclers. That said, three years since our most recent feature on the subject, there is demonstrably greater interest and activity, and real applications of recycled fiber are growing.

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Out of Autoclave

Composites at AIA 2017

The ACMA Architectural Division exhibited its 4th annual Composites Pavilion and 2nd annual COMPOSITES CHALLENGE for architectural students.

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Marine

Composite submersibles: Under pressure in deep, deep waters

Manned deepsea exploration calls for a highly engineered composites solution that saves weight and preserves life — at 6,500-psi service pressure.

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Carbon Fibers

Polyurethane’s processing speed, properties enable bigger blades

Decade-long development effort reaches key wind energy cost-reduction milestone using epoxy-besting infusion resin.

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Wind/Energy

Automated Preforming, Part 1: Numbers and Landscape

CW’s multi-blog series on preforming begins with an overview and quick look at the numbers: 1-minute take time, 10-15 seconds per layer, 490-kg/hr and 3.5 million parts/year. Are you ready for serial CFRP production?

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Sustainability

Bio-composite surfboard fins

New materials trim weight, add sustainability.

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Composites recycling: Gaining traction

Recycling of carbon fiber, glass fiber and — at last — resins, is growing as new players enter the space.

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Aerospace

European SAMPE meeting explores composites innovation

High spots from SAMPE Europe’s Summit 17.

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Automotive

Gardner Business Index at 55.2 in March 2017

As the year’s first quarter closed out, the trend was growth and expectations were that growth would continue.

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Carbon Fibers

The automotive industry’s “killer app”?

Automotive is king, and the killer automotive app will be the multi-material and all-carbon-fiber B-pillar.

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Automotive

Process automation: A model response to Trumponomics and Brexit?

Offshoring can’t go on forever and a significant trend toward reshoring is probably inevitable.

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