Out of Autoclave

In-orbit-deployable radar dish

Aramid/PEI delivers flexibility, strength and precision for space-based reflector

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Marine

First all-carbon yacht a winner

Vacuum infusion with customized fabrics enables demanding yacht build

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Understanding the influence of fiber orientation on structural analysis of fiber-filled parts

The effect of fiber orientation on material properties is a key way the injection molding process impacts mechanical performance. Doug Kenik and Angie Schrader of the Design, Lifecycle & Simulation product group at Autodesk (Waltham, MA, US) illustrates two ways fiber orientation influences the structural behavior of fiber-filled parts and discuss the need for a bi-directional approach to design and analysis.

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Wind/Energy

Wind turbine blades: Back to the future?

Dayton Griffin, MSc, a senior principal engineer at DNV GL (Seattle, WA, US), considers the challenges that increasing blade length poses for designers/manufacturers in terms of weight mitigation, stiffness optimization, manufacturability and transportability.

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Adhesives

Prepreg compression molding makes its commercial debut

Ultra-thin, preformed laminate designs enable CFRP decklid manufacture at lower-than-expected mass and at cycle times approaching mass-production speed.

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Out-of-autoclave processing: <1% void content?

Research sheds light on air and air-bubble behavior in OOA aerospace prepregs.

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Carbon fiber as a replacement for glass fiber in D-LFT auto parts

Research progresses toward attainment of 80-90% of continuous carbon fiber tensile modulus in lighter parts molded from direct long fiber thermoplastic compounds.

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Curing

The ends will be justified by the means

CW Editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan recalls the one question he's consistently fielded throughout his quarter century in magazine editing and publishing: “Don’t you worry about running out of things to write about?” Here's his answer.

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Glass/epoxy RTM process yields “four-in-one” auto suspension blade

Hutchison (Levallois Perret, France) caused a stir at JEC Europe with its Trifunctional Auto Suspension.

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News Briefs: JEC Europe 2015

Briefs on Hexcel, AkzoNobel, Ashland.

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microwire technology for composites