Adhesives
Wind Blade Manufacturing: Are thermoplastic composites the future?
In a market dominated by thermoset composites, some wind turbine blade manufacturers are actively pursuing new composite blade designs featuring faster-processing reinforced thermoplastics.
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In-situ composite repair builds on basics
For on-aircraft repair, demand is on the rise for specialized composites training and expertise.
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Shared composite material property databases
For more than a decade, NASA, FAA, industry and academia have been working toward the goal of creating a centralized composite material property database similar to that for metals. Their efforts, while productive, have not come with the war-like strength that the standardization of metals did. The composites industry is guided by Composite Materials Handbook 17 or CMH-17 (formerly known as MIL-HDBK-17).
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Composites stabilize space-based telescope
Composite Primary Mirror Backplane Support Structure to hold James Webb Space Telescope’s thermal stability within extremely tight 38-nm dimensional tolerance.
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High-Volume Preforming for Automotive Application
 More than a dozen parts for four Aston Martin models are mass produced in France using Ford Motor Co.'s optimized Programmable Preforming Process and resin transfer molding.
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New Bridge Deck Bests Early FRP Systems
Mechanically fastened, two-piece composite deck system addresses challenges inherent in previous fiber-reinforced polymer deck designs, lowering cost, speeding installation and reducing maintenance.
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Composites take the hit in U.S. Navy patrol boat
 New carbon/Kevlar composite hull and deck provide impact-absorbing solution to crew injury problems caused by severe vertical acceleration of previous high-speed, all-metal patrol boat.
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Equibiaxial flexural strength testing of fiber-reinforced ceramics
In my last column, I discussed uniaxial flexural strength testing of fiber-reinforced ceramics, that is, simple three- or four-point bending of a strip of material of rectangular cross section (see "Learn More," at left). As was noted, the strength of this test specimen is sensitive to machining defects at its edges. Also, in many applications of fiber-reinforced ceramics (and unreinforced ceramics), the stress state is not uniaxial, but rather biaxial.
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Structural health monitoring: Composites get smart
New initiatives are mainstreaming real-time monitoring systems into composites on aircraft, wind blades and other critical performance structures.
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Polyurethane long fiber technology (LFT) replaces wood in spa surround
To many consumers, the thought of a relaxing soak in a hot tub is mighty appealing — but the thought of spa maintenance, particularly replacing rotted wood in the spa's cabinet-like enclosure, probably isn't. For spa manufacturer Clearwater Spas (Woodinville, Wash.), that reality and the fact that building decorativ
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