When resin transfer molding (RTM) began transitioning into high-pressure RTM (HP-RTM) roughly a decade ago, it was mostly lauded for automotive applications, reducing composite part cycle times from hours to less than 2 minutes. Less has been said about applying this technology to aerospace parts. T

CW photo | Scott Francis   SAMPE 2019 was held in Charlotte, N.C., U.S., which represented the event’s first foray to that city. CompositesWorld was there and offers this summary of highlights from the show and conference.

A novel carbon fiber product designed and sized to improve the performance of sheet molding compound (SMC) has been commercialized by Zoltek Corp., a Toray Group company (Bridgeton, Mo., U.S.). The patented, pre-spread fiber, called PX35 KS, is scored as the tow band is produced, converting a 50K to

TE Wire & Cable’s (Saddle Brook, N.J., U.S.) PEEKSense thermocouple sensor is a high-temperature autoclave thermocouple assembly for polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composite applications. Retaining the temperature-sensing capabilities of the company’s AccuClave product line, PEEKSe

EconCore (Leuven, Belgium)’s ThermHex honeycomb technology converts thermoplastics to high-performance, lightweight honeycomb core structures and, combined with inline lamination of skins, produces lightweight sandwich panels. The true honeycomb structure is said to outperform&n

Flexible Printed Circuits in unlimited lengths Earlier this year, Trackwise (Gloucestershire, UK) shipped a 26-meter long multilayer flexible printed circuit (FPC) —believed to be the longest ever produced — for distributing power and control signals across the wings of a solar-powered,

A number of companies introduced new products at the show. For example, JM Polymers added three more grades to its FiberX2 line of recycled, injection-moldable short carbon fiber-reinforced polyamide 6/6. Source | Katie Okonski/SPE The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Bethel, Conn., U.S.) me

Teijin Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) has announced that its Tenax TPCL carbon fiber thermoplastic consolidated laminate was incorporated into the A350 XWB, Airbus’s new extra-wide-body midsize jetliner delivered to Japan Airlines (JAL; Tokyo) on June 14. Tenax TPCL was used in the joints

XG Sciences Inc. (XGS; Lansing, Mich., U.S.) has announced that it will participate in developing advanced composites in China based on its xGnP graphene nanoplatelets. The memorandum of agreement creates the Graphene Applications Development Center (GADC), a joint venture company bet

The composites-intensive Airbus A400M military airlifter static display at the 2019 Paris Air Show. Source | CW Expectations were mixed going into the 2019 Paris Air Show (June 17-23). Boeing, it was hoped, would lay more groundwork for the New Midsize Aircraft (NMA), but the 737 MAX crisis ha

The promise of nanomaterials to deliver unprecedented mechanical properties, along with tailorable electrical and thermal conductivity for composites, has been heralded for decades. Because of their unique properties and tremendous surface area, nanomaterials have the potential to push product perfo

If automated fiber placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) were the manufacturing processes that enabled widespread application of composites in the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, then it will also be AFP/ATL that lead the way for the next generation of commercial aircraft, now on drawing

Advantageous features of thermoplastic composites, such as toughness, comparatively high out-of-plane strength and sustainability/recyclability, have attracted aircraft design engineers to the notion of thermoplastic composite primary structures for decades. But aircraft manufacturing engineers have

Producing composite parts with a class A finish is not the Holy Grail — there are plenty of companies that do this on a routine basis. However, doing so using resin infusion without expensive tooling or gelcoats and at a rate of one part per hour? Well, that is something unique. From plastics

A joint collaborative project led by Hexcel (Stamford, Conn., U.S.) and Arkema (King of Prussia, Pa., U.S.) aims to optimize unidirectional (UD) tape design and manufacture for use in high-rate, cost-competitive composite part production. The Highly Automatized Integrated Composites for Pe

LANXESS (Cologne, Germany) has announced that its Tepex continuous-fiber-reinforced composites are used in a rear seat application for the Audi A8. The sedan car has an option with two electrically adjustable individual rear seats, the shells of which have been developed by Faurecia A

  Sicomin’s GreenPoxy 28 is aimed specifically at the HP-RTM molding processes used for both high-performance automotive structural parts and aesthetic interior carbon fiber components.   Sicomin (Marseille, France), supplier of eco-resins, SR GreenPoxy 28 is thepro

The PASSARO (caPAbilities for innovative Structural and functional testing of AeROstructures) project aims to develop new multifunctional materials — integrating noise insulation and high energy impact resistance — and inspection solutions for new composite cockpit manufactured in one sh

Source | TPRC The ThermoPlastic composites Research Centre (TPRC, Enschede, the Netherlands) has announced it is currently finalizing its second project on overmolding, which will develop structural analysis capabilities for overmolded parts.  The process is simulated by co

  With a 10' x 40' fabrication area, Ascent’s LSAM machine will be the largest available in the aerospace market, allowing for both the printing and machining of a wide range of thermoplastic composite materials. Photo | Thermwood Corp. Ascent Aerospace (Macomb Township