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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.

More than 60 universities and companies committed to advance the MGI through education and research, including the release of material properties databases and partnerships among universities, industry and national labs. And there's more.

Google Lunar XPRIZE contenders turn to space- and launch-friendly composites.

Built without mechanical fasteners and at approximately half the weight of conventional products, the CR-1 is impressive and designed by an impressive team.

The composite insulation systems used in windows to insulate building interiors, while rarely seen, are vital to sustainable and efficient residential and commercial construction.

Creative use of carbon fiber helped make Lisa Airplanes' Akoya LSA a possibility, and with some fresh financing, it's now on its way to becoming reality.

CW technical editor Hannah Mason recaps some of the technology on display at JEC World, including natural, bio-based or recyclable materials solutions, innovative automotive and renewable energy components and more.

Fifty years of supplying materials for composites manufacturing includes custom fabrication and now aims to advance 3D-printed tooling, parts and new resins.

Enabling SMAP mission success, unprecedented design requirements were deftly managed using composites in the largest unfurling and rotating reflector to date.

CAMX 2016 keynoters from Luminati Aerospace, Local Motors and Greg Lynn FORM outline their vision for the future of composites.