Space
Other fiber options
Quartz fibers, while more expensive than glass, have lower density, higher strength and higher stiffness than E-glass, and about twice the elongation-to-break, making them a good choice where durability is a priority. Quartz fibers also have a near-zero CTE; they can maintain their performance properties under
Read MoreFocus on Design: Solar-powered composite car designed to win
Three for three in Australia’s famed solar car race, university students from The Netherlands take this redesigned <420-lb carbon composite vehicle Down Under for number four.
Read MoreMarket Trends: Standing on the Threshold
In his book by the same name, Malcom Gladwell describes The Tipping Point as “that magical moment when an idea, trend or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips and spreads like wildfire.” After decades of strong growth driven by a desire for improved performance, high-performance composites have arrived at the
Read MoreComposites: Past, Present Future: Phenolics Revisited
Phenolics were the first commercialized thermosetting resins made from synthetic components. The earliest phenolic resin — polyoxybenzylmethylenglycolanhydride, formed from phenol (carbolic acid) and formaldehyde — is credited to Dr. Leo Baekeland, a Belgian immigrant to the U.S., although German chemist Adolf von
Read MoreSpeaking Out: ACEE, the NASA program that almost didn't get composites on commercial jets
During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, the Arab oil-producing countries imposed an embargo on customers friendly to Israel. There were long lines and high prices at U.S. gas pumps, and the airlines were paying more for fuel as well. The airlines complained to Senator Barry Goldwater, who was a pilot and a member of the
Read MoreEnsuring cure: Viscoelastic feedback
Material State Management measures the cure state of composite structures, enabling not only shorter cure cycles but also the ability to optimize cure cycles.
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Orion: Composite tanks' ticket to space?
Research, development, testing prove composites can contain cryogens.
Read MoreMatrices: Carbon, metal and ceramic
Perhaps the most exotic matrix, in part because it is neither thermoset nor thermoplastic, is pyrolized and densified noncontinuous carbon, which forms the matrix in carbon/carbon (C/C) composites. C/Cs withstand extremely high temperatures – nearly 1650°C/3000°F on space shuttle components – and also find use in
Read MoreEngineered to innovate
Core materials — and the ways they are used — evolve to meet new challenges.
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Taking Up Tooling Boards
Tooling Board ManufacturersEpoxy and polyurethane tooling boards are a standby for creating models or low-run-production tooling.
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