Carbon Fibers

Epoxies

PRSEUS preform for pressurized cabin walls

Over the next few years, NASA and The Boeing Co. (Chicago, Ill.) will build larger and more elaborate pressurized passenger cabin structures for future blended-wing airliners.

Read More
Carbon Fibers

Composite propeller for Royal Navy minehunter

Composite-for-metal replacement brings multiple benefits.

Read More
Autoclave

2011 International Paris Air Show

At the 49th event, records are set for attendance and aircraft orders, and airframers go on record about composites-related developments.

Read More
Molds/Tools

Tooling for composites: Evolutionary trajectory

New technologies and improved methods keep up as tools get bigger and more complex and toolmaking gets ever more challenging.

Read More
Autoclave

High-speed press cure for high-speed racers

Trapped tooling and compression molding bring cocuring efficiencies to previously autoclave-cured, aerodynamic fins and planes.

Read More
NDT

Carbon fiber/PEEK takes hydraulic pump to new depths

A switch from metal to composites reduces weight, minimizes part deflection in ultradeep ocean installations.

Read More

New cutting tools for drilling material stacks

Dormer Tools Ltd. (Sheffield, U.K.) has developed veined polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting tools for drilling applications that involve stacked materials in aircraft wingskin assemblies.

Read More
Aerospace

Thermoplastic composites: Primary structure?

Yes, advanced forms are in development, but has the technology progressed enough to make the business case?

Read More
Prepregs

TPCs on the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350

Although The Boeing Co.’s (Seattle, Wash.) 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus (Toulouse, France) A350 XWB have earned much press as showcases for thermoset composites in aircraft structure, both programs also have advanced the use of thermoplastic composites.

Read More
Weaving

Nanotechnology: Into the realm of real

Fast, scalable process grows nanostructures directly on composite reinforcements for a “drop-in” use in volume production processes.

Read More