Composites

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.

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

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 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

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

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%.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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

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.

Surgical garments based on cornstarch solution

1 September 2010

Singapore researchers have invented a flexible, lightweight, impact-resistant composite material based on the same principles of how a cornstarch solution hardens on impact.

Stitchbonded reinforcement fits complicated moulds

1 September 2010

A mechanically stitchbonded reinforcement fabric consisting of a needlebonded core sandwiched between chopped glass fibres, called Polymat Free-Flow, will be launched by Scott & Fyfe at Composites

Better reinforcements

1 August 2010

Nanofibres fused to microfibres are proposed as an improved reinforcement for composites in International Patent Publication WO 2009/018104.

Flexible composite for anti-ballistic protection

1 June 2010

A flexible composite that is resistant to ballistic projectiles and has a good resistance to the pick-up of liquids (including water) is the subject of International Patent Publication WO 2007/097780.

BMW and SGL boost carbon fibre use for automobiles

1 May 2010

A state-of-the-art plant for manufacturing carbon fibre for use in BMW's electric-powered cars is to be built in Moses Lake, Washington, USA.

Expanding the horizons for brittle, high modulus yarns

1 April 2010

Wrapping brittle core multifilamentary yarns in another material before coating them with an adhesive that remains tacky over time allows them to be spooled, stored indefinitely and then processed in

Nanotube-reinforced carbon fibre prepregs create lightweight boat

1 March 2010

Zyvex Performance Materials has unveiled an ultralightweight composite boat called the Piranha.

Carbon nanotube sizing improves performance of reinforcements

1 February 2010

Synthesizing carbon nanotubes directly on a parent fibre creates an improved reinforcement for composites, according to researchers at Lockheed Martin Corp of Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Securing reinforcement fibres prior to impregnation

1 January 2010

A reinforcing mat with its fibres secured by continuous filaments knitted through the structure and subsequently thermally fused to one another is proposed in US Patent 2005/0197025.

Polypropylene improves performance of carbon fibre reinforcements

1 October 2009

A high-performance polypropylene (PP) fibre has been found to improve the toughness and durability of carbon fibre-reinforced composites (CFCs) used in motorsport, at the same time as reducing their w

Polyester multifilaments made intobetter reinforcements

1 October 2009

Polyester multifilaments that disperse homogeneously in a matrix resin to provide improved reinforcement are the subject of International Patent Publication WO 2008/056645.

Surging Asian market for wind power prompts Owens Corning investment

1 August 2009

Owens Corning is expanding its capacity to produce technical fabrics at manufacturing facilities in Chanzhou and Doudian, China; and Taloja, India.

Alliant Techsystems chooses TenCate materials for American Centrifuge

1 August 2009

Alliant Techsystems has selected TenCate Advanced Composites USA as a supplier of composite prepreg material for the manufacture of composite rotor tubes to be used in USEC Inc's American Centrifuge P

Making carbon fibre surfaces rougher

1 July 2009

Korean scientists say that exposing carbon fibres to electromagnetic radiation modifies their surfaces simply and quickly, so improving their bonding to polymer matrices in composites.

Textile innovations for composites make their mark in Paris

1 December 2008

The annual JEC Composites exhbition took place in Paris, France on the 24-26 March.

Long, natural fibres key to composites made only from renewable resources

1 November 2008

The first generation of high-performance composites made from completely biodegradable natural fibrereinforced plastics has been produced by a UK-based consortium.

Increasing opportunities for technical textiles in composites

1 June 2008

The 2008 JEC Composites exhibition in Paris was an opportunity for technical textiles manufacturers to demonstrate the essential role they can play in an industry based on alternatives to metal.

Sheet based on carbon fibremat

1 May 2008

A sheet of carbon fibre composite suitable for thermal conduction and/or shielding radio waves is the subject of European PatentApplication EP 1 876 276.

Oil helps make high-quality, uniform carbon fibres

1 January 2008

Toray Industries has developed an oil agent for precursors that is the heart of an efficient process, the Japanese company claims, for producing uniform, high quality carbon fibres.

Organic material promotes bone reconstruction

1 April 2007

Belgian research association Centexbel is working on the optimization of an organic material composite intended to promote bone reconstruction.

High molecular weight polyolefin reinforcement improvements

1 January 2007

A novel approach to making polymer matrix composites reinforced with ultra-high molecular weight polyolefin fibres is the result of the work of a group of Israeli researchers.

Crush-resistant prepregs make better panel structures

1 July 2006

Hexcel Corp of Pleasanton, California,USA,has developed a prepreg with resistance to core crushing that is designed for making fibre-reinforced panel structures.

Better cellulose fibre reinforcement

1 March 2006

Composites containing cellulosic pulp that enjoy both improved fibre dispersion and lower discolouration are the focus of US Patent 6 743 507.

Denser nanofibre composites

1 March 2006

A Dutch organization claims to have found a way to make dense carbon nanofibre composites.

Fibrous material layer

1 November 2005

A fibrous material for incorporation into an absorbent article, such as a diaper, pant diaper, incontinence guard, sanitary napkin or wound dressing, is outlined in US Patent 6 888 945 by SCA Hygiene

Absorbent fibrous web

1 November 2005

A process for forming an absorbent fibrous web composite is disclosed in US Patent 6 872 275 by Kimberly-Clark.

Fibre-reinforced sheathing for storm protection from DuPont

1 October 2005

Composites for storm protection are the focus of work by DuPont that is described in International Patent WO 03/033252.

Thick textile armatures

1 October 2005

The production of thick textile armatures made of superimposed layers of threads secured by a binding thread traversing the layers is the subject of US Patent 6 843 280.

Glass fibre mats

1 July 2005

Finland's Ahlstrom Glassfibre Oy has invented a system for making chopped strand glass fibre mats.

Multi-axial reinforcement

1 July 2005

Menzolit-Fibron GmbH of Bretten,Germany, discloses a system of making fibre-reinforced materials in US Patent 6 838 148.

Thermoplastic composite

1 April 2005

A US company has invented a system for creating a composite in which a glass fibre mat is impregnated with a thermoplastic polyurethane.

Fibre-reinforced wood

1 March 2005

US Patent 6 749 921 discloses a wood reinforced with a fibre-reinforced thermoplastic, adding that the resin used offers a number of advantages in this application when compared with existing composit

Three-dimensional reinforcements with interwoven bias fibres

1 January 2005

US weaver Bally Ribbon Mills has developed three-dimensional (3D) woven fabrics intended for use in composites, as well as a loom for making them on.

Reinforcing materials made from active yarns

1 December 2004

Fabrics containing active yarns, such as shape-memory fibres or those made from electro-active polymers, that are intended for reinforcing composites are the subject of European Patent EP 1 420 094.

Extruding natural fibre reinforced plastics

1 November 2004

A novel process that produces thermoplastic granules reinforced with natural fibres has been developed by Agrotechnology & Food Innovations BV of The Netherlands.

Open-celled thermoplastic with high stiffness

1 November 2004

GE Advanced Materials, The Netherlands, has adapted a papermaking process in order to produce a long thermoplastic resin reinforced with glass fibre.

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