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Composites

The effects that the chemical functionalisation of few-layer graphene (FLG) flakes has on the mechanical properties of composites reinforced with these nanomaterials has been investigated using adv

A polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) compound containing particles of bismuth trioxide could be used in place of traditional materials such as lead to provide protection from radiation, according to the

Researchers at the US Department of Energy (DoE)’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) and Carbon Fiber Technology Facility (CFTF) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) are using their exp

BMW Group has awarded its compatriot SGL Carbon a multi-year contract for the production of a glass fibre-reinforced plastic (GFRP)-based cover plate for the battery enclosures the carmaker will us

Working with the European Space Agency (ESA), Bcomp of Fribourg, Switzerland, has developed what it claims to be the first panel for satellites reinforced with natural fibres.

Technology that enables adhesive bonds between composite structures to be broken quickly and cheaply using a simple heat source has been developed by the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol

Worldwide growth for the use, re-use and recycling of fibreglass

A growing appreciation by engineers of the benefits of using fibreglass in a range of industries (notably wind-energy generation, automotive and construction) is predicted to lead to a boom in sales for the material, reports Sarah Gibbons. At the same time, this demand is also stimulating a market for recycled and re-used fibreglass.

A low-temperature-curing carbon fibre-reinforced epoxy prepreg (HexPly M79) from Hexcel is to be used by Flight Design for the manufacture of a variety of parts for lightweight aircraft.

Precision formatter of composites Web Industries Inc has installed a high-volume composite slitting and spooling line at its Omega Systèmes plant in Nantes, France.

Gurit of Zurich, Switzerland, has signed a two-year supply agreement with an unnamed Chinese turbine-blade manufacturer, through which it will manufacture and supply core material kits during 2020

A start-up company developing an additive manufacturing (AM) process for the production of composite parts has received US$48 million in funding from investors.

A strong, lightweight, all-plastic brake pedal for a mass-production battery-electric sports car has been developed by BOGE Elastmetall GmbH using reinforced thermoplastics from Lanxess.

In response to the increasing impact of the human coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the global manufacturing sector, US companies Woodward and Hexcel Corp have agreed to cancel their plans to merg

The European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) of Brussels, Belgium, has added data for glass fibres to its Eco Impact Calculator, an online tool which enables composites companies to calcula

Novel methods for the manufacture of composite engine-inlet ducts for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being developed by researchers in Ohio, USA.

Prominent manufacturers, suppliers and users of composites in the UK are working together to develop ventilators for the treatment of patients infected with human coronavirus (COVID-19) in the coun

UK-based companies Oxford Advanced Surfaces (OAS) and 2-DTech Ltd are to work together to develop a range of nanomaterial-modified surface treatments for plastics and composites.

The ability of composite-metal foams (CMFs) to pass simulated-pool-fire tests has been proven by researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU)—meaning that the material could, for instance,

A carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) from Teijin has been selected for use in Panasonic Corp’s newly launched digital video cameras, the HC-X2000 and HC-X1500.

4M Carbon Fiber Corp of Knoxville, Tennessee, USA, says that its atmospheric plasma oxidation technology has been shown to be capable of producing strong carbon fibre three-times faster than is pos

An intumescent nonwoven veil from Technical Fibre Products is being used by Valmont Industries in the manufacture of its composite transmission and distribution poles.

The world’s first re-usable plastic spin-on oil-filter module for cars has been developed by BASF and Hengst.

The role that non-metallic composites can play in the manufacture of nuclear fusion reactors is being explored by the UK’s National Composites Centre (NCC) and Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).

A different class—carbon composites research at Ford Motor Co

There has been a flurry of activity in the past decade as carmakers and composites specialists have sought to develop technologies that would enable the widescale use of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics in the automotive industry. As Ford Motor Co has found in pioneering work, however, these lightweight materials might best be employed as part of a multimaterial approach to part production. Composites Editor James Bakewell takes-up the story.

A lightweight composite headrest for a child’s car seat that is simple to produce has been developed by a consortium of companies in Germany and Poland.

Composites manufacturers in Germany continue to be dissatisfied with the current business environment there, according to a half-yearly survey conducted by Berlin-based Composites Germany.

A method that could enable the damage that occurs in a composite when its reinforcing fibres fracture to be observed accurately and easily is being developed by researchers at the National Institut

Owing to concerns over the current outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19), the composites industry’s flagship event, JEC World, is to be postponed until the 12–14 May 2020.

The developer of fibre patch placement (FPP) technology for the automated production of three-dimensional (3D) reinforcement fabrics for the composites industry, Cevotec, is to be represented by Fu

A variety of heat-resistant nonwoven veils for use in composites are to be launched by Technical Fibre Products (TFP) at JEC World.

Montefibre Carbon is to invest €16.2 million to establish a line for the production of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor and construct a carbonisation line at its plant in Miranda de Ebro, Spain.

Gurit has sold its automotive business (Gurit Hungary Kft in Székesfehérvár) to composite-parts manufacturer Carbopress SpA.

A lightweight seatback for a sportscar has been produced from a combination of carbon fibre-reinforced prepreg and wood fibre-reinforced plastic by Hexcel and NaCa Systems.

A quick, cheap and highly productive process for the conversion of a wide variety of carbon sources – including coal, food waste and plastic –  into flakes of graphene is being developed by researc

A company dedicated to the research and development (R&D), testing and sale of composite and multimaterial automotive components is to be established in Wuppertal, Germany, by Teijin.

A tailored fibre placement (TFP) cell has been installed by Carbon ThreeSixty at its facility in Chippenham, UK.

Ahead of JEC World 2020, EconCore has announced that it has licensed its technology for the production of lightweight thermoplastic honeycomb cores to two companies; Low & Bonar and Ko

A highly automated demonstrator production line that enables composite parts to be produced from prepregs in cycle times of three minutes has been unveiled by Solvay of Brussels, Belgium.

Nonwovens made from recycled carbon fibre have been launched by Sigmatex of Runcorn, UK.  

SGL Carbon of Wiesbaden, Germany, is to start producing landing skids for air taxis from braided carbon fibre.

Volkswagen (VW)’s first innovation hub in North America is to be opened at the University of Tennessee (UT) Research Park in Knoxville, USA.

Carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) backrests have been developed for Guangzhou Automobile Group Co (GAC) Ltd’s ENO.146 electric concept car by the carmaker’s research and development (R&

A method for eliminating the voids in composites based on the use of films of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), rather than expensive and energy-intensive autoclaves, has been developed by a research team i

Hexcel Corp and Woodward Inc have signed a definitive agreement to combine through a merger of equals.

A substantial contract for the high-volume production of carbon fibre-reinforced and glass fibre-reinforced plastic cover plates for battery enclosures has been awarded to SGL Carbon of Wiesbaden,

A range of dry unidirectional (UD) carbon fibre tapes have been developed by Hexcel for use in cross-country racing skis manufactured by Madshus.

From the Pagoda of Horyu-ji to future vehicles

A cellulose nanofibre (CNF)-reinforced composite-intensive car was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show, which took place on 24 October–4 November 2019 at the Big Sight exhibition centre in Japan’s capital. Adrian Wilson reports.

A facility dedicated to the development of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) fan blades and fan cases for use on jet engines has been opened in Bristol, UK, by Rolls-Royce.

An oxidation process being commercialised by LeMond Carbon yields cheaper carbon fibre in higher volumes than is possible using conventional processes, according to the results of a technical audit

Coal-tar pitch is to be transformed into high-value carbon fibre for use in aircraft, automobiles, sporting goods and other high-performance applications through a project funded in part by the US

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