Materials

Construction

Building a bigger Big Wheel

Machining specialist scales up the 1970s icon, producing plugs and tools for an exact fiberglass replica at a Disney resort.

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Carbon Fibers

No dark clouds at JEC

Icelandic ash aside, there were no dark clouds over the JEC show floor as the 2010 event proved to be a pleasant surprise.

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Aerospace

Machining carbon composites: Risky business

As composites take a larger part (and form larger parts) in the aerospace structures sector, it’s not just a make-it-or-break-it proposition.

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Natural Fibers

Metal-matrix composites used to lighten military brake drums

Century Inc.'s combination metal-matrix composite (MMC)/aluminum brake drum is a lightweight alternative to cast iron and steel brake drums in military vehicles.

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Weaving

Orion re-entry system: Composites displace metal

World’s largest heat shield updates metal design with out-of-autoclave process.

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Negating negatives

Composites Technology magazine's editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan says the April issue's cover story on startup electric car makers is proof that there are serious carmakers willing to give composites more than a serious look.

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Adhesives

Cost-effective carbon composite reflector dish

Modular manufacturing method forms different dish sizes with near mirror-perfect reflective surfaces, without resort to one-off tools.

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Weaving

Residential construction breakthrough: Composites find a home

Composite materials get the go-ahead for an unconventional but code-compliant California house.

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Autoclave

Rigid polyurethane foam primer

In this sidebar to CT's feature story entitled "Structural polyurethanes: Bearing bigger loads," the author defines the differences between the two major types of polyurethane foam.

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Weaving

Quiet revolution: Composites in EVs

Startup automakers make use of composite body/chassis components to extend the range of hybrid-electric and battery-electric vehicles.

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