CW Blog
3-D printing autoclavable composite molds
The polymer additive manufacturing research team at the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory reports that it has successfully fabricated autoclave-capable carbon fiber composite molds, manufactured using large-scale 3D printing/additive manufacturing.
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Composites recycling becomes a necessity
Boeing and Airbus each is generating as much as a 1 million lb of cured and uncured carbon fiber prepreg waste each year from 787 and A350 XWB production. If you include the entire supply chain for these planes, the total is closer to 4 million lb/year. And with the automotive industry poised to consume (and waste) more carbon fiber than ever, recycling of composite materials has become an absolute necessity. The technology is there, but the markets are not. Yet.
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Composites help to repair earthquake-damaged bridges
Utah researchers designed a new repair process that involves carbon fiber-reinforced polymer “donuts” to fix damaged bridges quickly.
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Delta throws Bombardier's C Series a lifeline
After anemic sales threatened the future of the composites-intensive C Series, Delta's order of 75 CS100 aircraft, with options for 50 more, might have put the single-aisle aircraft on a path to sustainability.
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Cost-effective aerocomposites: Dry fiber AFP and resin infusion
Aurora Flight Sciences and NONA Composites aim to improve toughness, repeatable aerospace quality and affordability for large-scale NASA structures.
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Thermoplastic composite wings on the horizon?
OUTCOME, a project under the Clean Sky 2 program, aims to industrialize out-of-autoclave thermoplastic primary aerostructure.
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Carbures, el Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain
On a rapid and audacious growth trajectory, this Tier 2 supplier based on the Iberian Peninsula opens the doors of three foundational facilities near Spain’s aerospace epicenter.
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Up close and personal with Solar Impulse 2
CW was at the scene when the composites-intensive Si2 landed in Phoenix, AZ.
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Carbon/epoxy Cadillac hood in production
While they typically keep their research efforts close to the vest, automakers and automotive Tier suppliers nevertheless are always in the process of evaluating the multitude of materials available for lightweighting.
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Composites in tornado shelters
A new design aims to defeat the threat from debris, both as heavy piles preventing exit and as projectiles traveling at ballistic speeds.
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CIBOR advances aerospace materials in medical applications
CFRP in surgical instruments and orthopedic implants gets assistance from Wichita R&D center.
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Full steam ahead for composite ship doors and hatches
VABO Composites (Emmeloord, The Netherlands) has added to its wide range of composite products these ship doors and hatches that offer a 50% weight reduction vs. conventional steel doors.
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