CW Blog
Can IACMI propel us out of adolescence, into adulthood?
On Jan. 9, the US Department of Energy (DoE) announced that it will add US$70 million to the US$189 million already committed to the University of Tennessee’s Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) for composites R&D. CW's editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan asks, "What will come of this investment?"
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Composite tooling without oven or autoclave
No Oven No Autoclave technology has been demonstrated in tooling for NASA, including multiple thermal cycles and use for curing epoxy infused out-of-autoclave parts.
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The value of composites in aeroengines
ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ takes a closer look at the value of composites used in 10 major aircraft engine platforms.
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Composites for repair (2015)
Composites now offer a cost-effective means repair and/or strengthen structures made of steel, concrete or other materials.
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Part design criteria (2015)
Designers of composite parts can choose from a huge variety of fiber reinforcements and resin systems. That makes knowledge of how those materials work together a critically important aspect of part development. Here's a short description of what that knowledge entails.
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Supply and demand: Advanced fibers (2015)
Demand for advanced fiber, virgin and reclaimed, is on an upswing after a dip during the recent recession. Fiber suppliers are gearing up to meet an expected increase in demand as manufacturers in a number of composites end-markets scale up or start up part development and production programs.
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Tooling (2015)
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.
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Fiber reinforcement forms
Fibers used to reinforce composites are supplied directly by fiber manufacturers and indirectly by converters in a number of different forms, which vary depending on the application. Here's a guide to what's available.
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The markets: Automotive (2015)
Composites — in particular, those reinforced with carbon fiber — continue to make headway into the automotive world, but suppliers of competing steel and aluminum are fighting back.
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The matrix (2015)
The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here's a guide to selection.
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Fabrication methods (2015)
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.
Read MoreRegenerative braking system for railcars relies on composites
A new flywheel-based regenerative braking system, the Digital Displacement hydraulic pump-motor transmission system from Artemis Intelligent Power, has demonstrated that it can reduce the carbon footprint of trains.
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