CAMX Connection

 More and More Composites Blowing in the Wind Wind energy is putting the uncertainty that was the hallmark of this industry in the rearview mirror. Electricity from this renewable resource is cheaper and more competitive than it’s ever been — and getting more so. And with a five-year Production Tax Credit (PTC) on the books in the United States, the …

Additive Manufacturing Comes to Composites Fabrication The use of continuous fiber in additive manufacturing systems is not trivial, but it is being done. As this fabrication technology evolves and matures, options for applying it in everything from automotive to aerospace to consumer composites will expand tremendously, creating a host of new opportunities for the composites industry. Read here for whose …

Aerocomposites: The move to multifunctionality Much has been said about the pressing need to reduce commercial air carrier fuel costs and CO2 emissions by lightweighting aircraft through the use of composite materials. The next wave in this movement is almost certain to be multifunctional composites. What are they? Composite laminates that not only provide lightweight, load-bearing structures, but also perform …

Taking the hand out of hand layup Hand layup has a long history in aerospace composites fabrication, but it’s not well suited for automotive composites manufacturing, where volumes are much higher. But the discrete placement of fiber reinforcements still has value. New research is pointing toward automated hand layup that might help this vital process bridge the aerospace-to-automotive divide. More. …

Composites Recycling Becomes a Necessity Boeing and Airbus each is generating as much as a 1 million lb of cured and uncured carbon fiber prepreg waste each year from 787 and A350 XWB production. If you include the entire supply chain for these planes, the total is closer to 4 million lb/year. And with the automotive industry poised to consume …

Thermoplastics riding into automotive, aerospace The legacy of composite parts and structures is built on a family of thermosets — including epoxy, vinyl ester, polyester and phenolic — that have helped tremendously to make the industry what it is today. Not to be forgotten are thermoplastics, which have played a serious role as well, and offer advantages that promise to …

Compared to legacy materials like steel, aluminum, iron and titanium, composites are still coming of age, and only just now are being better understood by design and manufacturing engineers. However, composites’ physical properties — combined with unbeatable light weight — make them undeniably attractive. This month, CAMX Connection introduces to composites novices the fibers and resin systems commonly used in …

CAMX 2015 (Oct. 26-29) in Dallas, TX, was, by all accounts, a success. Feedback from the exhibit floor and the conference was positive and upbeat. CompositesWorld was there and offers this review of highlights from the show floor and the session, including product award winners, keynote address and industry announcements. More. Getting Bigger & Better – CAMX 2015 Wraps Thank …

CAMX Exhibit Previews, Part 2 CAMX 2015 is less than three weeks away (Oct. 26-29, Dallas, TX, US). If you’re going to the show, or thinking of going, you might want to know a little about what will await you on the exhibit hall floor. CompositesWorld asked CAMX exhibitors to send previews of the products and technologies they’ll have on …

CAMX Exhibit Previews, Part 1 CAMX 2015 is less than a month away (Oct. 26-29, Dallas, TX, US). If you’re going to the show, or thinking of going, you might want to know a little about what will await you on the exhibit hall floor. CompositesWorld asked CAMX exhibitors to send previews of the products and technologies they’ll have on …