
Jeff Sloan Brand Vice President, ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ & Plastics Technology
JEC World 2016: Automotive highlights
On the automotive side, Henkel (Düsseldorf, Germany) emphasized on its JEC stand a glass fiber-reinforced composite leaf spring, based on Henkel’s polyurethane matrix resin Loctite MAX 2, used in the chassis of the new Volvo (Gothenberg, Sweden) XC90, a premium crossover SUV; the platform of this vehicle is expected to be applied to other Volvo cars in the coming years.
Read MoreTeijin goes public with long-awaited Sereebo molding process
Teijin (Tokyo, Japan) revealed in Paris for the first time many details about its Sereebo high-volume composites manufacturing process.
Read MoreBMW cars again a composites showcase at JEC World 2016
BMW AG (Wolfsburg, Germany), already notable for its progressive use of composite materials in its i3 and i8 automobiles, provided the Parisian canvas for a palate of composites innovations.
Read MorePolybenzoxazine on the horizon?
Benzoxazine veteran Dr. Hatsuro Ishida at Case Western Reserve University has developed what he calls the fourth generation of this versatile high-heat, high-strength matrix resin.
Read MoreCarbon fiber-based BMC wears well
Carbon fiber and ceramic are combined with a proprietary resin system to create a novel, extremely high-wear bulk molding compound (BMC) for centrifugal pump application.
Read MoreAshland unveils low-density, high-performance SMC
Ashland's new Arotran 771 sheet molding compound (SMC) offers a specific gravity of 1.2, with good mechanical and physical properties. The company is targeting 1.0 specific gravity, which would put SMC on par with aluminum in automotive applications.
Read MoreLocal Motors to use Siemens software for 3-D printed vehicles
The partnership combines Siemens’ PLM software technology with Local Motors’ leadership in co-created and 3-D-printed vehicles – direct digital manufacturing (DDM).
Read MoreUS Army evaluating composites solution for airfield damage repair
The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is working on use of an FRP matting system to repair damaged military airfields.
Read MoreHigh-definition part surface quality on injection molded parts
RocTool (Le Bourget du Lac, France; Charlotte, NC, US) has introduced a new technology, called HD Plastics, that applies the company's fast, high heating and fast cooling to the improvement and optimization of thermoplastic resin systems in injection molding applications.
Read MoreAirbus, Siemens to develop hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion
Airbus Group and Siemens plan to demonstrate the technical feasibility of hybrid-electric aircraft propulsion by 2020.
Read MoreThermoplastics riding into automotive, aerospace
The legacy of composite parts and structures is built on a family of thermosets — including epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester and phenolic — that have helped tremendously to make the industry what it is today. Not to be forgotten are thermoplastics, which have played a serious role as well, and offer advantages that promise to make this material type one of the fastest growing over the next decade.
Read MoreIAC debuts FiberFrame on 2017 Mercedes-Benz
Germany-based International Automotive Components (IAC) has launched its ultra lightweight FiberFrame natural fiber sun roof frame on the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
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