Materials
Thermoplastic composites in flight ... for decades
Thermoplastic composite airframe components parts have a surprisingly long history. Here's one of the earliest applications.
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Get ready for Composites 4.0!
It might seem like science fiction, but it must be our path if we are to make composites competitive.
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Recycled carbon fiber: Its time has come
Impressive industry growth puts a new emphasis on the role of carbon fiber recycling.
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Taking the hand out of hand layup
Hand layup has a long history in aerospace composites fabrication, but it's not well suited for automotive composites manufacturing, where volumes are much higher. But the discrete placement of fiber reinforcements still has value. Research is pointing toward automated hand layup that might help this process bridge the aerospace-to-automotive divide.
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Getting real: Thermoplastic resin transfer molding
KraussMaffei is launching this fall thermoplastic resin transfer molding (T-RTM), through which caprolactam is injected into a preform and then in-mold polymerized to create polyamide 6.
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GE Aviation breaks ground on CMC facilities in Alabama
The two adjacent factories in Huntsville will mass-produce silicon carbide (SiC) materials used to manufacture ceramic matrix composite components (CMCs) for jet engines and land-based gas turbines for electric power.
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Controlled fragmentation of multimaterial fibers via cold polymer drawing
Researcher unlocks nanoscale means of controlling breakage in materials, opens door to next-generation manufacturing.
Read MoreCarver Non-Woven Technologies opens its doors
US-based Carver Non-Woven Technologies offers nonwovens made with glass fiber, bast, carbon fiber, basalt fiber and thermoplastic fibers in densities ranging from 300-2,400 gsm.
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Airbus Helicopters verify performance of 410km/h Clean Sky 2 demonstrator
X3-based, compound VTOL airframe configuration nears final design but exact use of composites yet to be detailed
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Thermoplastic composites suspension featured on racecar
The Polystrand GT-Lite racecar recently completed its third racing weekend at the SCCA Majors event in Pueblo, Colo.
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