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The wind energy market has long been considered the world’s largest market, by volume, for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites — and increasingly, carbon fiber composites — as larger turbines and longer wind blades are developed, requiring higher performance, lighter weight materials. The outer skins of wind and tidal turbine blades generally comprise infused, GFRP laminates sandwiching foam core. Inside the blade, rib-like shear webs bonded to spar caps reinforce the structure. Spar caps are often made from GFRP or, as blade lengths lengthen, pultruded carbon fiber for additional strength.

CW's annual look back over the last year reviews the technologies, processes and sustainability initiatives still shaping the composites industry.

Since its landing on Mars in 2021, NASA’s rover has completed four scientific campaigns. Its fifth campaign up to the crater rim, a location of geologic interest, will further aid scientists’ understanding of Mars’ past formation.

Pre-production efforts are underway to begin building production-intent vehicles.

CorPower Ocean announces significant investment in its wave energy technology that converts its motion into electricity via a filament-wound fiberglass buoy design.

Bringing on Syensqo as its main materials and technological partner, Swiss explorer Bertrand Piccard hopes to stimulate climate action by demonstrating disruptive solutions in this 2028 aircraft design.

New, ultralight-areal-weight prepreg tapes form the thin-ply laminates will enable Solar Impulse 2’s sun-powered flight around the world.

Scotland’s renewable energy trade body joins several other members to guide and support technology advancement for recyclability and future wind blade development.

Chosen for low CO₂ footprint, RC value >9, fire resistance, light weight and high strength, Duplicor façade structures are key to two-story extension.

Jetcam’s latest white paper explores the critical aspects of nesting in composites manufacturing, and strategies to balance material efficiency and kitting speed.

Together with Purdue, AnalySwift aims to develop a composite heater layer and a novel software tool or module to achieve assembly, disassembly of thermoplastic composite joints in space during long-duration missions.