Materials
787 integrates new composite wing deicing system
The composite wing leading edge on Boeing’s Dreamliner features an integrated heating element that incorporates a sprayed metal conductive layer within the laminate stack.
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Restoring a museum masterpiece with composites
Carbon fiber/vinyl ester reinforcement extends the structural life of architectural and art-world landmark.
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Wind Blade Manufacturing: Cost-efficient materials-based strategies
The wind blade’s four key elements — the root, the spar, the aerodynamic shell or fairing, and the surfacing system — have present unique manufacturing challenges that must be met with carefully selected composite material systems and molding strategies.
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Shared composite material property databases
For more than a decade, NASA, FAA, industry and academia have been working toward the goal of creating a centralized composite material property database similar to that for metals. Their efforts, while productive, have not come with the war-like strength that the standardization of metals did. The composites industry is guided by Composite Materials Handbook 17 or CMH-17 (formerly known as MIL-HDBK-17).
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Prepreg forecast: Strong growth through 2013
Prepreg applications are on the rise in the composites industry as manufacturers in a variety of industries increasingly adopt this versatile material. Today, prepregs find use in commercial aerospace, military/defense, general aviation, space/satellite, marine, sporting goods, automotive, civil engineering, wind
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Polyurethane long fiber technology (LFT) replaces wood in spa surround
To many consumers, the thought of a relaxing soak in a hot tub is mighty appealing — but the thought of spa maintenance, particularly replacing rotted wood in the spa's cabinet-like enclosure, probably isn't. For spa manufacturer Clearwater Spas (Woodinville, Wash.), that reality and the fact that building decorativ
Read MoreNew metal coating to optimize composite tooling
Near the end of its development cycle, this nanostructured metal overlay promises to extend the working life and improve the cost-effectiveness of carbon/epoxy tooling.
Read MoreMicrospheres: Fillers filled with possibilities
For composite applications, these hollow microstructures displace a lot of volume at low weight and add an abundance of processing and product enhancements.
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Engineering Insights: Glass/Thermoplastic Hood Steps Toward Commercialization
The hood design for Hyundai’s QarmaQ concept car is evaluated against European and Japanese pedestrian safety requirements.
Read MoreMarket Trends: Carbon fiber demand, supply and the commodity threshold
ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ conferences director Scott Stephenson notes the increasing evidence at Carbon Fiber 2007 that the carbon fiber market is maturing.
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