Glass Fibers
New hybrid solar energy system uses composites to lower costs
Patent-pending 5D Watts system increases solar energy production four times vs. conventional non-composite flat panels while lowering weight and installation cost.
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Composites in tornado shelters
A new design aims to defeat the threat from debris, both as heavy piles preventing exit and as projectiles traveling at ballistic speeds.
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New composite pipe designed for extreme subsea oil and gas operations
The m-pipe subsea intervention line is the longest VICTREX PEEK-based solution ever made.
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Full steam ahead for composite ship doors and hatches
VABO Composites (Emmeloord, The Netherlands) has added to its wide range of composite products these ship doors and hatches that offer a 50% weight reduction vs. conventional steel doors.
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JEC World 2016: Automotive highlights
On the automotive side, Henkel (Düsseldorf, Germany) emphasized on its JEC stand a glass fiber-reinforced composite leaf spring, based on Henkel’s polyurethane matrix resin Loctite MAX 2, used in the chassis of the new Volvo (Gothenberg, Sweden) XC90, a premium crossover SUV; the platform of this vehicle is expected to be applied to other Volvo cars in the coming years.
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Ushering in a new era for windows … and more
Superlative stiffness and thermal efficiency could make this highly glass-filled pultruded polyurethane insert a construction industry go-to material of choice.
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In defense of glass fiber
Given the hype around carbon fiber, CW columnist Dale Brosius says it's easy to overlook the importance and future of glass fiber.
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US Army evaluating composites solution for airfield damage repair
The US Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is working on use of an FRP matting system to repair damaged military airfields.
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Navy unveils unmanned composites-intensive vessel
This entirely new class of ocean-going vessel can traverse thousands of kilometers over the open seas for months at a time, without a single crew member aboard.
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Selective reinforcements boost “commodity” composite properties
Strategically placed advanced reinforcements reduce weight, cost while dramatically increasing mechanical performance and dimensional stability.
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