CompositesWorld

23/07/2024

ADDYX srl is the developer of the WSM-170 water-soluble expandable mandrel material. This material enables simultaneous rib and skin layup for one-shot, rib-reinforced hollow composites via 3D printed molds.

Addyx topology optimization and water-soluble mandrel enables simultaneous rib and skin layup for one-shot, high-strength, lightweight structures.

17/07/2024

The latest CW Troubleshooter by Louis Dorworth provides a briefing on some of the common foam core material types, forming methods and tooling requirements for the thermoforming process.

A briefing on some of the common foam core material types, forming methods and tooling requirements.

10/07/2024

NASCAR has debuted the first version of its new battery electric vehicle (BEV) prototype, featuring bodywork made from flax fibers developed and supplied by Bcomp Ltd.

Implementation of Bcomp technical flax fibers in a U.S. motorsport first represents NASCAR’s step toward more sustainable competition vehicles.

02/07/2024

A little over a year has passed since the tragic loss of the OceanGate Titan submersible that claimed the lives of five people including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. What lessons have been learned from the disaster? A recent article from WIRED by Mark Harris recounts the events leading up to the Titan incident, releasing knowledge about the project from “tens of thousands of internal OceanGate emails, documents and photographs provided exclusively to WIRED by anonymous sources” that sheds new light on Titan’s development.

Ultimately, the article places less fault on the material selection and more on the shortcuts and lack of necessary precautions taken by Rush. Here is CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis' take on the evidence presented by Harris' enthralling read as well as some links to CompositesWorld coverage of the submersible's development and its unfortunate demise.

A year has passed since the tragic loss of the Titan submersible that claimed the lives of five people. What lessons have been learned from the disaster?

27/06/2024

The DOMMINIO project combines multifunctional thermoplastic composites and AFP in-situ consolidation with 3D printed gyroid cores, embedded SHM sensors and smart materials for induction-driven disassembly of parts at end of life.

The DOMMINIO project combines ATL with 3D printed gyroid cores, embedded SHM sensors and smart materials for induction-driven disassembly of parts at end of life.

24/06/2024

Powered by an 85% air / 15% pure polyimide aerogel, Blueshift introduces a novel material system that protects structures during transient thermal events from -200°C to beyond 2400°C for rockets, battery boxes and more.

Powered by an 85% air/15% pure polyimide aerogel, novel thermal protection systems safeguard composite structures during transient thermal events.

06/06/2024

The Boeing Company has announced plans to invest in several Québec-based enterprises, including an anchor investment for an Aerospace Development Centre in the new Espace Aéro Innovation Zone, plus investments in autonomous, electric, four-passenger eVTOL aircraft development and advanced landing gear research.

Investments include an Aerospace Development Centre, as well as collaboration in Wisk Aero’s eVTOL development and Héroux-Devtek’s landing gear research.

05/06/2024

Diehl Aviation and 9T Labs have released the Eco Bracket, a lightweight component made from a combination of 3D printed carbon fiber elements and recycled thermoplastic composites derived from manufacturing waste.

Ultra-lightweight and made of recycled composites, the Eco Bracket cuts weight and cost in half and reduces CO2 emissions.

29/05/2024

Upon his one-year anniversary as editor-in-chief of CompositesWorld, Scott Francis looks back at some of CW's changes — and hints at where the brand might be heading next.

Upon his one-year anniversary as editor-in-chief of CW, Scott Francis looks back at some of the brand’s changes and hints at where the brand might be heading next.

10/05/2024

In this episode of CW Talks, the official podcast of CompositesWorld, experts from fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites manufacturer Creative Composites Group discuss the role of composites in infrastructure projects today, including composite solutions for bridge rehabilitation and protecting waterfront structures.

Thank you to Scott Reeve and Corey Sechler with CCG for taking time to talk about their work in this area.

Experts from Creative Composites Group discuss the role of composites in infrastructure, including bridge rehabilitation and waterfront structures.

03/05/2024

Bold Valuable Technology, a prominent player in the high-performance battery industry, has developed a high-voltage battery system called BOLDair, specifically designed to cater to the unique requirements of electric and hybrid aircraft drive applications. The battery system’s enclosure, compression structures and thermal runaway management enables high-performance electric energy storage.

Full story here:

BOLDair’s composite enclosures, compression structures and thermal runaway management enables high-performance electric energy storage.

02/05/2024

When you’re a tourist with a background in writing for manufacturing it’s impossible not to notice all of the ways in which composites have resulted in significant milestones in the U.S. — historically and in the present.

When you’re a tourist with a background in writing for manufacturing it’s impossible not to notice all of the ways in which composites have impacted the U.S.

30/04/2024

Speak at the 2024 Carbon Fiber Conference!

Share your knowledge with a global audience of carbon fiber users in emerging industrial markets, such as wind energy, marine, and construction — and in traditional markets, like aerospace and sporting goods.

Submit your abstract by May 15 at: https://www.carbonfiberevent.com/

23/04/2024

If you listen to the BBC's Glued Up: The Sticky Story of Humanity, you might have recognized Ginger Gardiner's voice on the episode titled "How glues helped us fly."

Ginger, CW senior technical editor, joined host Mark Miodownik for a look at composites' impact on aircraft design.

Ginger's segment begins close to the 9:34 mark.

Some of the biggest revolutions in aircraft design have been down to adhesives.

22/04/2024

Themes at the forefront of JEC World 2024 included solutions for mobility applications and sustainable materials, technologies and processes for composites manufacturing. CompositesWorld editor-in-chief Scott Francis shares some of what he encountered at this year's show.

Themes at the forefront of JEC World 2024 included solutions for mobility applications and sustainable materials, technologies and processes for composites manufacturing.

18/04/2024

As the number of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles grows, so do the opportunities for composites in battery enclosures and components for fuel cells.

CompositesWorld Senior Technical Editor Ginger Gardiner provides a detailed collection of materials and applications.

As the number of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles (EVs) grows, so do the opportunities for composites in battery enclosures and components for fuel cells.

15/04/2024

Sustainability is here to stay for composites fabricators. Are you ready?

Join us on April 17 for a one-day virtual event dedicated to the strategies, materials and technologies to help composites manufacturers become more sustainable.

Register for "CW Tech Days: Sustainability" today!

View the full agenda here: https://www.compositesworld.com/kc/cw-tech-days-sustainability?utm_source=facebook

This CW Tech Days event will explore the technologies, materials, and strategies that can help composites manufacturers become more sustainable.

01/04/2024

"It’s true that everyone has their own pandemic story: mine began when I stepped off the plane in Paris in 2020 and received a text that JEC had been canceled."

CompositesWorld editor-in-chief Scott Francis reflects on the ways in which the composites industry has changed and also stayed the same since his last time at the show in 2020.

CW reflects on the ways in which the composites industry has changed and also stayed the same based on observations from this year’s JEC World.

30/03/2024

Finishing processes such as grinding, sanding, painting, polishing and buffing can be highly repetitive and physically demanding tasks. Yet, despite its repetitive nature, so much surface finishing work has traditionally been performed by hand. In this CompositesWorld article, learn how AI startup GrayMatter Robotics offers solutions for self-programming automation of different tools prevalent in manual surface finishing operations including sanding, polishing, grinding, buffing, painting, coating, deburring, trimming, sandblasting and laser ablation.

AI startup offers automation innovations for high-mix, high-variability, manual surface finishing applications.

29/03/2024

Can you explain what's featured in these images?

This is from our April POST CURE, the section in CompositesWorld magazine that features interesting materials, applications and processes.

View the answer for this post on page 48 of the April issue, published on April 1 at https://bit.ly/3UoP160

28/03/2024

What’s next for automotive technology supplier Forvia? Company leaders share more on goals related to like ramping up hydrogen storage tank production and R&D into new bio-based and recycled .

Forvia shares sustainability goals and recent developments aimed at bio-based and recycled materials and ramping up H2 tank production for clean mobility.

27/03/2024

An alternative to traditional shipping pallets?

PalletX uses carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and Compo Tech's advanced winding technology to manufacture a lightweight, more durable, modular alternative to traditional shipping pallets.

LOG Point Pallet fuses advanced materials with innovative design and manufacturing to improve supply chains worldwide.

27/03/2024

The composites industry’s focus on sustainability is not new. What is new is the demand from customers that their supply chains implement sustainable business practices to help meet decarbonization goals. Here are four considerations for meeting those goals.

Four considerations for meeting sustainability goals in composites manufacturing.

25/03/2024

Do you see the portable energy recording unit (PERU)?

Measuring 1 × 1.5 meters, PERU can measure electrical use of up to five machines or machine components simultaneously, can run for 5 days on its batteries and can integrate a wide range of other sensors along with its volume flow measuring device that assesses the flow of air, water or heat.

More about this in the article "Measuring energy use to enable sustainable composites production" here: https://www.compositesworld.com/articles/measuring-energy-use-to-enable-sustainable-composites-production

18/03/2024

The evolution of the double vacuum debulk (DVD) process over the years continues to advance its “near autoclave quality” for low-void, highly compacted repair patches.

Article by Louis C. Dorworth of Abaris Training

Evolution of the double vacuum debulk (DVD) process over the years continues to advance its “near autoclave quality” for low-void, highly compacted repair patches.

14/03/2024

In this edition of "From the CW Archives," Jeff Sloan revisits CW’s first plant tour — a visit to the F-35 FAL in Fort Worth, Texas — and a story by Ginger Gardiner a few years later. Both offer lessons on how to perform stacked drilling through composite and metallic materials.

Read them here: https://bit.ly/3IvPah5

This edition of From the Archives revisits CW’s first plant tour and a story by Ginger Gardiner a few years later. Both offer lessons on how to perform stacked drilling through composite and metallic materials.

13/03/2024

In the realm of NDT, parts made using composite materials present a unique set of challenges compared to traditional metals, largely due to their anisotropic nature — e.g., multiple fiber orientations in multiply laminates, ply buildups and drop-offs, various core materials in sandwich construction, etc. Kineco Kaman Composites India uses a bespoke Fill Accubot ultrasonic testing system to boost inspection efficiency and productivity.

More here: https://bit.ly/4a6m0AB

Kineco Kaman Composites India uses a bespoke Fill Accubot ultrasonic testing system to boost inspection efficiency and productivity.

12/03/2024

Before an engine is ever installed onto a flight nacelle and put into an aircraft, it needs to go through a series of tests on the ground. Ground Test Solutions is one of only a few companies that makes test nacelles. Find out what goes into the design and manufacture of these composite components. https://bit.ly/3PfV4GN

Ground Test Solutions shares the design and manufacturing processes involved in building composite nacelle components for testing jet,helicopter engines.

11/03/2024

What stood out to you at ? CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis found sustainability solutions were presented as a more routine expectation in design and product development. The show featured numerous developments in electronics, the emerging energy market and sporting equipment, while aerospace did not launch any big announcements.

06/03/2024

Plant tour: Sekisui uses kaizen and innovation culture to expand thermoplastic serial production, 4.0 digitization and new technology for diversified new markets.

Plus, CEO Daniele Cagnatel challenges the industry's wages.

Veteran composite sites use kaizen, innovation culture to expand thermoplastic serial production, 4.0 digitization and new technology for markets.