Out of Autoclave

Carbon Fibers

Filament winding, compression molding combine on BMW M4 GTS

Cytec Solvay is debuting today a novel all-carbon fiber composite hood that it helped develop for the BMW M4 GTS, in cooperation with fabricator C-CON GmbH and automotive metals specialist Läpple AG.

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RTM

First 3D woven composite for NASA thermal protection systems

A NASA-led team develops 3D woven quartz preform, hybrid process to infuse it with cyanate ester resin (0.5% voids) and achieves TRL5 in three years to replace CF/phenolic in the Orion spacecraft’s compression pads.

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PEEK

JEC World 2016 exhibition and product previews

JEC World 2016 will be held in Paris March 8-10. These are some of the products that will be found at the show.

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Wind/Energy

IACMI starts to hit its stride

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI, Knoxville, TN, US) held its second membership meeting in Detroit, MI, US, Jan. 13-14, to coincide with the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS).

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Suppliers team to amp Viking 80C performance

Thanks to a coordinated effort with its fabric, core and panel suppliers, Viking Yachts was able to introduce carbon fiber cost-effectively, shaving weight and boosting speed in its new 24m-long 80C model.

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Cyanate Ester

Plant tour: Harris Corp., Rochester, N.Y., U.S.

High-technology telescope and space structures expertise has its roots in legacy Kodak programs.

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Wind/Energy

“Give us affordable carbon fiber!”

Guest columnist Dan Pichler, managing director of CarbConsult GmbH, suggests that the we need a sustained, cooperative effort in the carbon fiber supply chain. Partnering is the key.

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RTM

Can basalt fiber bridge the gap between glass and carbon?

When I started writing about composites in the way, way back, industry innovator Brandt Goldsworthy was still alive. His article on basalt fiber was one of the most-read columns in the old Composites Technology book, and there seems to be a lot of interest in this alternative performance fiber. Mafic SA is a new player in the basalt fiber market.

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Aerospace

Carbures: Conquering the world for composites

This global Tier 2 supplier produced 39,322 parts for Airbus in 2015, has sold seven RMCP machines to China capable of 40,000-75,000 composite auto parts/yr and is completing a study on opportunities for composites in oil and gas applications in Mexico. What next?

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Autoclave

Automated dry fiber placement: A growing trend

Many collaboratives and individual companies have pursued or are currently pursuing initiatives in dry fiber placement and OOA process development.

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microwire technology for composites