Composites

Toho Tenax improves carbon fibre for aerospace applications

14 July 2015

Toho Tenax Co has introduced a new grade of polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-based carbon fibre that it claims combines high strength and high tensile modulus.

Graphene-enhanced sizing for carbon fibres

13 July 2015

Two companies have won funding to develop graphene-enhanced sizings for carbon fibres.

Aerogel film for composites

23 June 2015

San Antonio, Texas-based Blueshift International Materials has developed a 100% polyimide aerogel that can be easily incorporated into composites.

Plant opens to make conductive fibres for composites

18 June 2015

A plant dedicated to the production of nickel-coated fibres has opened in Cleveland, Utah, USA.

Carbon fibre and carbon composites set for steady growth

While there is a lot of publicity regarding the growing use of carbon fibre in cars⁽¹⁾, the automotive market has a long way to go to catch up with the biggest user of the material—the aerospace and defence sector. Joining our team of regular contributors, Composites Editor Amanda Jacob summarizes the findings of the latest report on the global markets for carbon fibre and carbon composites.

Tough and colourful composite smartphone housings

10 June 2015

A rapid moulding technique developed by RocTool is being used by Motorola to mass-produce fibre-reinforced housings for smartphones.

Formax building innovation centre for fabric design

9 June 2015

Multiaxial fabric specialist Formax is currently constructing an innovation centre at its headquarters in Narborough, UK, to support its customers’ product development processes.

Thermoplastic veils introduced to toughen composites

31 March 2015

A range of thermoplastic nonwoven veils designed to improve the mechanical properties of composites made their debut during the JEC Europe exhibition held on 10–12 March 2015 in Paris, Fra

Carbon textiles tailored for reinforcing polyamide

31 March 2015

SGL says it has successfully concluded its development of carbon fibres and fabrics, as well as specialized sizings for such textiles, as its part of a collaborative project aimed at making composi

Biaxial carbon reinforcements

1 March 2015

A UK specialist in bespoke mulitaxial reinforcements is to launch a range of biaxial fabrics made using intermediate-modulus (IM) carbon fibre.

Huge potential for carbon fibre-reinforced composites in cars

Glass and other speciality fibres, such as aramids, have been used for many years as reinforcements for composites. Carbon fibre, however, is now very much the focus of the industry, particularly for automotive end-uses, according to Adrian Wilson.

Printed car becomes a reality

1 October 2014

A concept car (Strati) produced by additive manufacturing, also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, was made using a carbon fibre-reinforced compound, and assembled and driven during the Interna

Growing opportunities for natural fibres in composites

Wherever their sustainable advantages and low cost can be combined with the required performance, there is a compelling case for the use of natural fibres in composites, according to Adrian Wilson.

Strong, high-modulus carbon reinforcements

1 April 2014

Hexcel of Montluel, France, introduced a highmodulus carbon fibre for reinforcing composites during the JEC Europe exhibition, held in Paris, France, on 11-13 March 2014.

Chopped-strand glass fibre to reinforce polypropylene

1 April 2014

A chopped-strand glass fibre developed for reinforcing high-performance polypropylene (PP) was unveiled at the JEC Europe exhibition, held in Paris, France, on 11-13 March 2014.

Weaving technology produces unique three-dimensional I-beam

1 April 2014

A Swedish company that pioneers three-dimensional (3D) weaving technology claims to have created the first directly manufactured I-beam with fibres orientated at +deg-deg and 0deg/90deg in the web and

Textiles technology developed for composites manufacturing

1 April 2014

During the JEC Europe exhibition, held in Paris, France, on 11-13 March 2014, researchers from the Institute for Textile Engineering - Institut fur Textiltechnik (ITA) - of RWTH Aachen University in G

Sizing for heavy-tow carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastics

1 April 2014

A sizing specifically developed to make carbon fibre tow compatible with thermoplastic matrices made its debut during the annual JEC Europe exhibition, held in Paris, France, on 11-13 March 2014.

Ultrathin prepregs

1 March 2014

A process and machinery for making and handling ultrathin unidirectional (UD) prepregs has won a group of Swiss and French partners one of this year's JEC Innovation Awards for developments related to

Formation of reinforcements for wind-turbine blades

1 March 2014

An automated process for laying non-crimp fabric (NCF) together with subsequent forming of the stack to create a reinforcement for the complicated threedimensional (3D) geometry of a wind-turbine blad

Recycling is needed to make the most of a precious resource

On the eve of JEC – which will take place in Paris, France, on 11–13 March 2014 – the Editor of Advanced Composites Bulletin, James Bakewell reviews what is being done to recycle the textile components of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics.

Recycling carbon fibre is no longer simply a burning issue

As the market for carbon fibre-reinforced composites seems poised for spectacular growth in the next decade, close attention is being paid to how best to recover post-use the valuable fibres and fabrics they contain, according to Adrian Wilson.

Glass-fibre reinforcement for wind-turbine blades

1 December 2013

A unidirectional glass-fibre reinforcement fabric designed to allow the manufacture of long and lightweight composite blades for wind turbines is the latest innovation from Ahlstrom.

Issues affecting the greater use of composites in automobiles

1 December 2013

Satish Aparaj and colleagues at India's Textile & Engineering Institute - P.V. Kadole and M.C.

Bio-based reinforced thermoplastics for automobile components

1 November 2013

DSM Engineering Plastics of Sittard, The Netherlands, and PlastiComp from Winona, Minnesota, USA, have signed a partnership agreement with the aim of developing long fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (L

Non-crimp fabric behind successful mass-production of composite car roof

1 November 2013

KraussMaffei of Munich, Germany, has demonstrated the real-time mass-production of an automobile's composite roof panel during the K 2013 exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany (16-23 October 2013).

Teijin's fibre-reinforced thermoplastics enable recycling and rapid processing

1 November 2013

Teijin Ltd is now making a range of carbon fibrereinforced thermoplastics (CFRTPs) called Sereebo, which the Tokyo, Japan-based company says it has developed for rapid processing of components and for

Spread-tow carbon fabrics for lightweight, cheap reinforcement

1 October 2013

A French company unveiled its latest range of carbon reinforcements during the China Composites Expo, held in Beijing on 11-13 September 2013.

Growing role for nonwovens as composite reinforcements

There has been a notable rise in the number of companies supplying new nonwoven products as the basis for lightweight composite components for the automotive and construction industries, according to Adrian Wilson.

RTP adds cellulose fibre-reinforced polypropylene to its range

1 August 2013

Cellulose fibre extracted from trees grown in sustainably managed forests is being used to reinforce a polypropylene (PP) matrix to create a range of composites suitable for structural applications.

Owens Corning extends ranges of glass fibre reinforcements

1 July 2013

Techtextil (Frankfurt, Germany; 11-13 June 2013) saw the launch of a range of veils, nonwovens and mats made from glass fibre and designed by Owens Corning of Toledo, Ohio, USA, for use as reinforceme

Coated fabrics for reinforcements

1 June 2013

A French company says it has combined its expertise in coating and in engineering textiles for use with composites to create a reinforcement that is impregnated with a flexible thermoplastic.

Jute fibres competitive with glass

1 April 2013

A range of cheap reinforcements made from jute fibre was launched by Composites Evolution during the JEC Composites exhibition, held in Paris, France, 12-14 March 2013.

Carbon fibre-reinforced graphite for lightweight heat treatments

1 March 2013

Strong, stiff graphite that is reinforced with unidirectional carbon fibre is now available under the trade name of Sigrabond Performance from SGL Group of Wiesbaden, Germany.

Cellulose fibre shows its advantages as a reinforcement

1 January 2013

Thermoplastic composites reinforced with sustainably sourced cellulose fibres are being launched by Weyerhaeuser of Federal Way, Washington, USA.

3B roving to reinforce composites for wind-turbine blades

1 December 2012

A major standards body, Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has approved the use of the latest glass fibre from 3B of Battice, Belgium.

Partners to develop carbon fibre-reinforced polyamide for mass-production manufacturing

1 November 2012

Two German companies - one a leading producer of polyamide (PA) and its precursors, the other a specialist in carbon fibres - are to combine their expertise to develop composites that will permit shor

European consortium to develop use of thermoplastic composites in cars

1 November 2012

Five Dutch organizations have formed a partnership to advance the use of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites in the automobile industry.

AGY licenses Chinese company to make and sell high-performance glass

1 July 2012

A manufacturer of specialist glass fibre yarns based in Aiken, South Carolina, USA, AGY has entered a longterm agreement with CTG/Taishan Fiberglass of Taian, Shandong Province, China, which grants th

Cheap, lightweight parts for cars reinforced with carbon fibre

1 July 2012

Cheap sheet moulding compounds (SMC) reinforced with carbon fibre are to be sold by an alliance of Zoltek Companies Inc of St Louis, Missouri, USA, and Magna International Inc of Aurora, Ontario, Cana

AGY steps up output of glass fibres

1 June 2012

Growth in demand for high-performance glass fibres from aerospace and industrial markets has prompted AGY of Aiken, South Carolina, USA, to increase the production of its S-2 Glass products by 20%.

Investment in multiaxial glass fabrics for reinforcing composites

1 June 2012

A specialist in the production of multiaxial reinforcements made from carbon, glass and aramid fibres, Formax Multiaxial Reinforcements of Leicester, UK, has invested in a new machine to boost its pro

Surface treatment aids dispersion of carbon nanofibres in elastomerics

1 August 2011

Two Japanese partners have patented a method for improving the dispersion of carbon nanofibres within an elastomer matrix to produce composites with properties superior to those previously possible.

Mass production of general-purpose automobiles with carbon fibre composites is now a reality

1 April 2011

Teijin Ltd claims it has established the world's first mass-production technologies for carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Woven carbon fibre is basis of a stiff, supportive joining system

1 April 2011

A three-dimensional (3D) profile in the shape of a T-Bar can now be woven from carbon fibre in a single piece, according to the Swedish company Biteam.

JEC Composites spreads its wings to cover the whole world

1 February 2011

The synergy between textiles and composites is always evident at the annual JEC Composites show in Paris, France, and the announcement that the new American version of the show is to be co-located wit

Can carbon really replace steel and natural fibre replace glass?

1 February 2011

Many companies and organizations in the automotive industry are now working feverishly to replace traditional materials with composites, reports Adrian Wilson.

Fibre-reinforced plastics to protect electronic devices

1 December 2010

Consumer technology and computer giant Apple Inc has invented a way to make plastic housings reinforced with performance fibres that are suitable for electronic devices.

Extensive uses for carbon fibre in Lamborghini's concept car

1 December 2010

A concept car based around a monocoque made of carbon fibre-reinforced composite has been made by the Italian sports car manufacturer Lamborghini of Sant' Agata Bolognese.

Natural fibre-reinforced materials 10% lighter in weight than those strengthened with glass

1 October 2010

A line of polyolefin-based compounds reinforced with natural fibres from plants such as flax, hemp and sisal have been developed by So.F.Ter of Forli, Italy.

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Carbon fibre and carbon composites set for steady growth

Huge potential for carbon fibre-reinforced composites in cars

Growing opportunities for natural fibres in composites

Recycling is needed to make the most of a precious resource

Recycling carbon fibre is no longer simply a burning issue

Growing role for nonwovens as composite reinforcements