Composites

A nonwoven that is made from recycled carbon fibre and has an areal density of 60 g.m^–2 will be launched by Gen 2 Carbon at JEC World.

Avient Corp is to purchase DSM Protective Materials (including the Dyneema brand of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibre products) from Royal DSM for US$1.485 billion. 

Manufacturer of reinforcement for composites, Saertex, and supplier of flax fibres, Terre de Lin, have entered into a partnership to produce flax-based non-crimp fabrics for the marine, and sports

A polyester (PES) staple nanofibre for the reinforcement of rubber products such as tyres, hoses and belts is to be launched by Teijin Frontier Co Ltd of Osaka, Japan.

Waste carbon fibre from Airbus' manufacturing operations is being used to produce surfboards by Notox of Anglet, France. 

Harmless, natural alternatives to the chemicals typically used to promote adhesion between cords and rubber matrices are being developed by researchers at the German Institutes of Textile and Fiber

A collaborative robot (cobot) that partially automates the draping of textile reinforcements for the production of composites is to be exhibited at JEC World 2022 by the Institut für Texti

Developer of flax-based technical fabrics for the reinforcement of composites, Bcomp, has received CHF32.4 million (US$35 million) from investors after closing its latest funding round. 

A honeycomb sandwich panel with flax fibre-reinforced thermoplastic skins has been developed by Belgian companies EconCore and Flaxco.

A European and US consortium has manufactured a 62-m-long prototype wind-turbine blade that it claims can be recycled in its entirety. 

A brake cover made from a flax-fibre reinforced thermoset overmoulded with reinforcing elements made from thermoplastics has been developed for use on a motorcross motorcycle. 

Coloured carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) covers have been developed by Hypetex for Philip Morris International (PMI)'s tobacco-heating devices (called IQOS). 

A technique originally designed for the preservation of human remains is being used to make natural-fibre reinforcements for composites, such as those made from bamboo, stronger and more durable.

A cost-effective method for producing carbon fibre from pitch, a by-product of the refining of petroleum that is used in low-value applications, such as asphalt, is being developed in the USA. 

Saertex has opened a facility in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico⁽¹⁾, for the production of multiaxial glass-fibre non-crimp fabrics for use in com

Long fibre-reinforced composites are being produced using polyamide (PA) 6 reclaimed from end-of-life fishing nets by Avient of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

Researchers in the USA are developing a nanofibre mat that they say provides better protection from high-speed projectile impacts than steel plates and conventional aramid fabrics. 

A composite that is made from cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and epoxy, is stronger and tougher than some types of bone and is harder than typical aluminium alloys has been developed by researchers

A business for the commercial production and supply of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) made using recycled carbon fibre is to be established by two companies in Japan. 

A lightweight, strong and cost-effective woven carbon-fibre fabric has been developed by Teijin Ltd, of Tokyo, Japan, using its proprietary tow-spreading technology. 

Teijin Ltd of Tokyo, Japan, is now able to sell prepregs with polypropylene (PP)/polycarbonate (PC), PC and polyamide (PA) matrices. 

Teijin Automotive Technologies of Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA, has begun commercial operation of a 39 000-m² facility for the manufacture of composite parts in the Wujin National Hi-Tech

Developer of coloured carbon fibres, Hypetex of London, UK, has been selected as a finalist for the 2022 JEC Innovation Awards for the development of a field-hockey stick for adidas of Her

The developers of a method for producing carbon fibres from cellulosic feedstocks have been presented with the first prize at the Cellulose Fibre Innovation of the Year Awards. 

Toray Industries Inc has customised its computer-aided engineering (CAE) software for injection moulding (3D Timon) so that it can be used to predict the properties of parts made from injection-ove

Yacht-builder Sunseeker has chosen a nonwoven semi-preg (HexPly XF) from Hexcel for the quick and efficient production of composite hardtops with high-quality, paint-ready surfaces for its 90 Ocean

A method for incorporating sensors into carbon-fibre reinforcement fabrics so that they can collect data about the processes used to make composite parts from them has been developed by researchers

A fibre-laying process that enables the rapid and efficient production of composite footplates and toe caps for use in footwear has been launched by Coats of Uxbridge, UK. 

Solvay and Trillium Renewable Chemicals have signed a letter of intent to develop a supply chain for bio-based acrylonitrile (bio-ACN) for the manufacture of carbon fibre.

What is claimed to be the first offshore nacelle to be made from natural fibre-reinforced composites (NFCs) has recently been delivered to Delft Offshore Turbine of The Netherlands where its perfor

Vestas of Aarhus, Denmark, has established a service for recycling wind-turbine blades in the USA and is keen to offer similar services in other countries where the local recycling infrastructure i

Colzate, Italy-based machinery builder Itema Group has completed the acquisition of Italian producer of composite components for use in such as weaving machines and aerospace applications, Lamiflex

In what it claims to be a first for the carbon fibre industry, Teijin Ltd is to conduct a life-cycle assessment (LCA) on its carbon fibres to determine the impact that their production, use and dis

Safran Aircraft Engines of Paris, France, and composites manufacturer Albany International Corp of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA, have agreed to extend their partnership – established in 2006 to de

A range of water-based emulsions and dispersions for modifying the properties of fibres used to produce woven and nonwoven technical fabrics has been launched by Michelman of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Zoltek is to increase capacity for the production of large-tow carbon fibre at its facility in Guadalajara, Mexico, by over 50%—to more than 20 kt a year. 

Teijin is to increase production of heat-resistant, carbon fibre-reinforced thermoset prepregs at its subsidiary, Renegade Materials Corp of Miami

An updated warp-knitting machine for the production of biaxial non-crimp fabrics (NCFs) has been launched by Karl Mayer of Obertshausen, Germany. 

A standard that can be used to quantify the drapeability and deformability of woven and nonwoven fabrics has been published by the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) of Geneva, Sw

A low-cost, scalable method for applying a carbide-based antioxidation coating to carbon fibres is being developed by researchers in the USA and France. 

A subsidiary of Teijin of Tokyo, Japan, has started to produce carbon-fibre materials – including prepregs – commercially at a facility in Ha Nam, Vietnam. 

Manufacturer of low-cost carbon fibre, Zoltek Co Inc of St Louis, Missouri, USA, is to expand production capacity at its facility in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Apply Carbon is to establish a facility to recycle carbon fibres following its acquisition of ELG Carbon Fibre's short-fibre business in May 20

ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd of Coseley, UK, has divested its business for the recycling and sale of short carbon fibres to Procotex Corp SA, while the balance of the company – which primarily sells nonwov

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s Ingenuity Mars helicopter, which features carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) rotor blades, has now (30 April 2021) completed four test

A cell that can be used for both automated fibre-placement (AFP) and automated tape-laying (ATL) processes has been installed at the UK's National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol.

A bio-based alternative to the resorcinol formaldehyde latex (RFL) adhesives typically used to ensure that a good bond is formed between mechanical rubber products and the yarns reinforcing them ha

A flame-retardant (FR), carbon fibre-reinforced polycarbonate (PC) compound that is made using bio-based and recycled materials, and displays the same properties as the incumbent made entirely from

The Institute for Textile Technology (ITA) at RWTH Aachen University in Germany is to work with consultant, AMAC GmbH, also of Aachen, to strengthen and develop its composites-related business.