Aerospace

Editorial

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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Space

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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Aerospace

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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Aerospace

GKN to build Boeing 737 MAX winglets in UK and Sumner, WA

Originally slated for its Orangeburg, SC facility, GKN will set up new assembly plant near Tacoma for Advanced Technology winglets.

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RTM

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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Aerospace

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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Natural Fibers

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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RTM

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.

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Wind/Energy

U. of Tennessee consortium awarded National Composites Manufacturing Institute contract

The long-awaited $70 million commitment from the US Department of Energy goes to a consortium led by the University of Tennessee's Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), which includes 122 partners who have promised an additional $259 million.

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