Lightning strike protection strategies for composite aircraft
Tried-and-true materials thrive, but new approaches and new forms designed to process faster are entering the marketplace.

SAMPE Europe 2013/JEC Europe 2013 highlights
Held concurrently, these two seminal European composites events weathered a rare Parisian snowstorm to plumb the depth and breadth of the industry.

Building a better tail boom
Out-of-autoclave carbon fiber/thermoplastic demonstrator is a 30 percent lighter drop-in replacement for an existing aluminum design.

U.S. crew and cargo candidate takes shape with composites
Crew-capable Dream Chaser to enable ISS transport missions from U.S.

Cytec epoxy, phenolic prepregs added to Lloyd's Register
Cytec has extended its Lloyd's Register Type Approval with the addition of VTM264FRB epoxy and MTM82X phenolic structural resin systems.

Report on SAMPE Europe's SEICO conference
As always, an interesting slate of presenters discussed innovative uses of composites and their march toward industrialization.

JEC Europe 2013: Highlights from the show
Despite a rare snowstorm on the first day that kept some attendees and exhibitors away, the JEC Europe 2013 show in Paris March 12-14 offered the usual glimpse at emerging technology and trends in composites.

Mergers and acquisitions activity in the composites industry: A review of 2012 and the outlook for 2013
M&A adviser Michael Del Pero charts the likely course of M&A activities in the composites industry during 2013.

Cutting and laser layup technology supports tier fabricator in Boeing project
Prototype production for The Boeing Co.’s (Chicago. Ill.) Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System (EMARSS) aircraft gets a boost from cutting and templating hardware/software supplied by Gerber Technology (Tolland, Conn.)

Cytec, Surface Generation demonstrate out-of-autoclave process for carbon fiber
Cytec and Surface Generation are collaborating on tests that combine Cytec's LTM carbon fiber tooling and structural prepreg with Surface Generation's Production to Functional Specifications out-of-autoclave process.

Cytec Industries, Jaguar Land Rover strike auto composites agreement
Collaboration includes developing designs, materials and manufacturing concepts for the cost-effective use of high-volume, composite materials for automotive structures.

Cytec Industries finalizes acquisition of Umeco
U.S.-based carbon fiber and prepreg manufacturer Cytec Industries Inc. has completed its purchase of U.K.-based composites and engineering specialist Umeco Plc in a deal worth about $439 million.

Cytec restarts carbon fiber expansion
Cytec Industries has approved restart of carbon fiber manufacturing expansion at the company's Piedmont, S.C., USA, facility as well as start of a prepreg manufacturing expansion project at the company's site in Greenville, Texas, USA.

Cytec to sell coating resins business to focus on composites
Cytec Industries has initiated a formal sale process for its Coating Resins business; the company expects to complete a transaction by the end of the year.

Composite fuselage helps HondaJet upend biz-jet market
CFRP composites enable unitized structure with low-drag aerodynamics that transform aircraft performance and reduce cost.

Cytec Industries to acquire Umeco
U.S.-based Cytec will pay $439 million for U.K.-based Umeco. The acquisition is expected to enhance Cytec's aerospace presence, and provide a toehold for Cytec in the fast-growing industrial and automotive markets.

Cytec materials picked for COMAC C919 passenger aircraft
Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China Ltd. (COMAC), developer of the single-aisle C919 aircraft, has signed Cytec to a 10-year term to supply high-performance structural composite and adhesive materials.

Sikorsky names suppliers for S-97 RAIDER helicopter program
Sikorsky is self-funding two prototype S-97 RAIDER helicopters for evaluation by the U.S. military. The design is based on the X2, which features coaxial, counter-rotating main rotors.

HITCO, MAG IAS, Cytec, Lockheed win U.S. defense ManTech award
A team comprised of HITCO Carbon Composites, MAG IAS, Cytec, Lockheed Martin and others win the 2011 Defense Manufacturing Technology Achievement award for composites work on the F-35 Lightning II.

CW Conferences: A what and who preview
CompositesWorld Conferences director Scott Stephenson offers a brief preview of speakers and topics at upcoming CW Conferences.

An out-of-autoclave progress report
CW Conferences director Scott Stephenson recalls Dale Brosius’ update on Quickstep’s out-of-autoclave work for the F-35 program.

2011 International Paris Air Show
At the 49th event, records are set for attendance and aircraft orders, and airframers go on record about composites-related developments.

JEC Paris 2011 Review
This annual Paris trade event’s statistics signal an advanced composites resurgence.

Carbon fiber/PEEK takes hydraulic pump to new depths
A switch from metal to composites reduces weight, minimizes part deflection in ultradeep ocean installations.

Lockheed Martin extends Cytec contract for F-35 prepreg
Cytec Engineered Materials has extended is F-35 Lightning II supply contract with Lockheed Martin, covering the period 2016 to 2020. Cytec supplies BMI and epoxy prepreg for the fighter jet.

Reinforced thermoplastics in aircraft primary structure
Carbon/PEKK floor beams prove production worthiness of lower cost, fast coconsolidation process.

Microwave: An alternative to the autoclave?
Aerospace composites manufacturer GKN evaluates microwave oven practicality and cost-effectiveness.

M&A activity in the composites industry
Michael Del Pero (FocalPoint Partners LLC, Los Angeles, Calif.) comments on the uptick in mergers and acquisitions activity in the recovering advanced composites segment.

Carbon fiber market: Cautious optimism
As the recession recedes, the demand for carbon fiber, and the supply to meet it, will exceed prerecession expectations.

Out-of-autoclave prepregs: Hype or revolution?
Oven-cured, vacuum-bagged prepregs show promise in production primary structures.

GKN A350 spar program update
Automated fiber placement to replace established tape laying/drape forming process for the composite rear spars on the new midsize commercial passenger jet.

Learjet 85 composite pressurized cabin a cost cutter
Single-piece carbon fiber composite structure selected over multipiece aluminum fuselage barrel section in new bizjet design.

People Briefs
Steve Peak, formerly of Cytec, joins FocalPoint Partners.

U.S. Air Force to offer composites bonding and joining program
The Air Force Manufacturing Problem Prevention Program meeting will be held Nov. 9 at The Aerospace Corp. in El Segundo, Calif. It's free and open to all U.S. citizens.

SQRTM enables net-shape parts
New out-of-autoclave process combines resin transfer molding with prepregs for complex helicopter part prototype.

The Private Space Race
NASA passes the development torch to legacy contractors and NewSpace entrepreneurs, igniting a new competition in space transport.

EAA AirVenture 2010
Rain on the Wittman Field runways can’t dampen Oshkosh Fly-In enthusiasm.

Nanocomp wins Phase II SBIR contract from U.S. Air Force
Nanocomp, a manufacturer of carbon nanotube sheet materials, has won a multi-million dollar Phase II contract by the U.S. Air Force to advance CNT-based materials as replacement for metal-based electromagnetic interference shielding and other applications.

Hexcel, Cytec financial reports point to ongoing recovery
Increased orders for composites-intensive commercial aircraft indicate that the aerospace market is rebounding.

Thermoformable thermoplastic composites
Thermoplastic composites that can be shaped into finished parts via thermoforming are proliferating as the thermoforming process gains traction, particularly in aerospace manufacturing. The following short article and chart provide some guidance in terms of sourcing.

Shared composite material property databases
Work at NCAMP is proceeding, with several new materials undergoing testing.

SAMPE 2010 Seattle Showcase
SAMPE’s first-ever foray into Boeing Country wrapped up with the M&P organization’s biggest draw this decade.

Aerospace-grade compression molding
Continuous Compression Molding process produces structures 30 percent lighter than aluminum at costs that have both Airbus and Boeing sold.

2010 SAMPE Europe/JEC Paris Showcase
Record crowds and reignited technological development testified to the composite industry’s renewed health and the recent recession’s demise.

JEC Composites Show 2010 Highlights
Despite the volcanic ash that clouded air travel, an eruption of new technology and new business did much to dispel the clouds of economic recession.

News and product briefs: JEC Composites Show
Product and technology news from Cytec, Lomold, 3B, Huntsman, Weber and VISTAGY.

Cytec receives Alenia innovation award
Carbon fiber composites manufacturer Cyctec Engineered Materials is honored for improving composite electrical properties for aerospace structure applications.

Cytec to supply composite materials for Bombardier jet programs
Cytec's CYCOM 890, a liquid resin infusion system, will be used for the manufacture of structural elements of Bombardier’s CSeries aircraft wing; other materials will be used in the Learjet 85.

Carbon fiber market: Key suppliers offer post-recession predictions
Although Hexcel and Cytec both are optimistic about long-term prospects for carbon fiber and composites use, 2010 looks to be a plateau year overall.

Very Light Jets Creating A Demand For Composites
"Baby" jets are causing an aviation buzz but will the market exist?

Fuselage skins redesign streamlines production
Cirrus Aircraft’s SR22 second-generation design improves functionality and enables faster processing.

Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft proves large structure practicality
Dr. John Russell reports that the successful completion of a flying aircraft in the the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft program has demonstrated the holistic impact that composites technology can have on future aircraft development.

News briefs -- Nov. 17, 2009
Chem-Trend expands products to Asia, Europe; Euroresins to distribute SAERTEX materials; Allegheny to distribute Jet Edge products; NCAMP to qualify Cytec OOA material; Nigel O'Dea launches composites marketing firm; Stanford announces composites design workshop; Zoltek launches new Web site.

News briefs -- Nov. 10, 2009
Fred Norman named COO of AOC; HGF Industries hires Mark Hartsky; BMCI hires Scott Henricks as technical sales engineer; William (Bill) Wood named president of Cytec's Engineered Materials business; EPTA soliciting pultrusion papers; Doug Still named national accounts sales manager at Gibson; Janicki launches new website; JB Martin Ltd. names Suzanne Hofford new business development manager.

Skinning the F-35 fighter
Fasteneing the all-composites skin on the Lightning II requires machining and drilling technology that is optimized for cost-efficiency.

Cytec, Mitsubishi Rayon to collaborate on aerospace-grade carbon fiber
Cytec Engineered Materials and Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. have entered into a strategic business collaboration to advance carbon fiber reinforced composite materials technology for aerospace applications.

News briefs - Aug. 25, 2009
Automated Dynamics names Robert Langone president; Compsys names Ron Taibl executive vice president; Cytec facility receives Spirit award; General Plastics graduates 25 from leadership education program; Michigan State University develops new nanocomposite; Premix celebrates 50 years; Reichhold picks Whitaker Oil as distributor; Stanford University to host composites design program.

Resins for the Hot Zone, Part II: BMIs, CEs, benzoxazines and phthalonitriles
Next-generation aerospace programs demand higher temperatures for structural and hot-section components, fostering advances in thermoset resin chemistry.

Modular composites: A perfect fit in new medevac helicopter
Bell Helicopter's new manufacturing parardigm replaces sheet metal with composites in a modular "snap fit" design.

Resins for the Hot Zone, Part I: Polyimides
 As next-generation aerospace programs demand higher service temperatures in structural and hot section components, a variety of polyimides vie for program approval.

SAMPE Europe/JEC highlights
The global economy might be on the wane, but there was little evidence of it at the annual SAMPE Europe conference and nearby JEC Composites Show in Paris.

Cytec puts carbon fiber expansion on one-year hold
Cytec had announced in 2007 that it would double its carbon fiber capacity by 2010 once its new facility in South Carolina came online.

JEC Composites show produces flurry of composites news
Amber, Axson announce cooperation agreement; DSM, BÜFA launch two joint ventures; Hexcel will use Imperium ultrasonic cameras for NDI; Umeco reorganizes to create two primary business groups.

Aircraft simulation gets composites aware
Rapid software evolution enables faster, better virtual solutions to complex composite design problems.

Show reports: SAMPE Tech, SME Tooling for Composites and Composites Europe
HPC was on the road — a lot — during the last two months, attending a number of conferences and exhibitions including its own CompositesWorld Expo held in Schaumburg, Ill. on Sept. 2-5 (see HPC’s extensive Expo coverage in the Learn More box at right).

Shared composite material property databases
For more than a decade, NASA, FAA, industry and academia have been working toward the goal of creating a centralized composite material property database similar to that for metals. Their efforts, while productive, have not come with the war-like strength that the standardization of metals did. The composites industry is guided by Composite Materials Handbook 17 or CMH-17 (formerly known as MIL-HDBK-17).

Cytec earnings outlook dims as Boeing strike continues
Cytec has reduced its earnings outlook for is Engineered Materials segment, which supplies composite materials for the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

JEC COMPOSITES 2008 show review
Composites professionals converged on this annual Parisian gathering in greater numbers than ever before, confident that the market’s global growth will continue.

Flying high on composite wings
FRP wings, fuselages and other primary and secondary structures on GA prop, turboprop and jet aircraft help lift this market to unprecedented heights.

Aligned discontinuous fibers come of age
Discontinuous but aligned carbon fibers are proving formable and formidable in high-performance, compound-curvature applications.

Carbon/BMI and carbon foam form Invar alternative
For years, Invar steel has been the material of choice for tooling that must endure repeated autoclave cycling in volume part production. Invar's disadvantage is its relatively high density and resulting large mass. As processors move away from hand layup and toward automated fiber and tape placement, there is a

Tooling Update: New dimensions in tooling
Nanoenhancements, out-of-autoclave strategies and low-pressure RTM headline efforts to increase mold quality and productivity and cut tool cost.

Friction products: Carbon fiber stopping power
Low weight, thermal shock resistance, and extreme strength drive growth of carbon-reinforced friction products and materials in brake applications.

JEC COMPOSITES 2007 Product Showcase - 7/1/2007
The annual Paris conclave showcases the global expansion of composites.

JEC Composites 2007 Product Showcase
This year’s Parisian exhibition provides key evidence of the composites industry’s unprecedented breadth and technical sophistication.

Boeing 787 Update
Approaching rollout and first flight, the 787 relies on innovations in composite materials and processes to hit its targets

JEC COMPOSITES 2007 Highlights
Advanced composites make notable marks not only in traditional aerospace apps, but in automotive, sport and infrastructure arenas as well.

Market Trends: The Composites Affordability Initiative, Part I
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Dr. John Russell outlines the U.S. Department of Defense Composites Affordability Initiative. Part I of a two-part series.

Composite spoilers brake Airbus for landing
New RTM'd carbon composite center hinge fitting withstands 20-ton air load in commercial jet spoiler assembly.

JEC Composites 2006 Product Showcase - 7/1/2006
Advanced composites continue to lead the economic upswing in the composites industry.

Lightning Strike Protection For Composite Structures
Composite structures are more vulnerable to damage than metal, but today's LSP products offer proven protection.

Autoclave Quality Outside The Autoclave?
Pioneers of out-of-autoclave processing in aerospace applications answer a qualified but enthusiastic Yes!

Thermoplastic Composites Gain Leading Edge On The A380
Breakthrough manufacturing process produces lightweight, affordable glass-reinforced PPS J-nose on the worlds largest commercial aircraft wing.

A technological brake for the carbon supply roller coaster?
Henrik Olofsson is a co-founder and the business development manager of Oxeon AB (Västra Frölunda, Sweden). He holds an MS in mechanical engineering from Chalmers University of Technology and a BS in business economics and management from the School of Economics and Commercial Law, Gothenburg University (both in

Carbon fiber race car technology hits the streets
Porsche equips its new Carrera GT with the first-ever all-carbon chassis on a production automobile.

Designing for dimensional stability in space
The accuracy of orbiting instruments depends on skillfully designed and manufactured composite components.

Distributors and their role
These key players in the supply chain provide indispensable services not just in the commodity markets but in advanced material arenas as well.

Are high-temp thermosets ready to go commercial?
Developed for the U.S. military, these high-performance matrices are branching out into wider use.

GENOA modeling software closely predicts composite structuralfailure
Progressive failure analysis and material-level damage modeling enable life prediction of composite structures.

Airline maintenance facility cuts repair costs while improving part quality
Delta TechOps uses simulation software to standardize repair procedures and bring work back in-house.

Composites combat ready in UCAVs
As unmanned aircraft are designed from inception for combat duty, composites will carry the payloads in structural components.

Nacelle manufacturers optimize hand layup and consider closed molding methods
Focused on optimizing traditional hand layup, nacelle and thrust reverser manufacturers cast an eye on future use of automation and closed molding.

Newer surfacing films reduce surface on demolded composite parts
A wide variety of products reduces finishing costs in many applications.

Advances in sizings and surface treatments for carbon fibers
As carbon reinforcements find new applications, unfamiliar processes and resin systems make sizing and treatment surprisingly hot topics.

Composite rib structure for Airbus A380 vertical tail
Fabricator exceeds Airbus performance requirements with hand layed rib truss structure for A380.

Cocured materials damp vibration in composite structures
Viscoelastic layers convert strain energy into heat, suppressing the harmful effects.

Fiber Placement The Centerpiece Of NCAM
Cryogenic composites just one facet of Lockheed Martins National Center for Advanced Manufacturing.

New film and paste adhesives for specialized applications
Customer performance demands drive thriving film and paste technology development.

Liquid Composite Molding Achieves Aerospace Quality
Improvements in materials, tooling and process control bring RTM and VARTM into the realm of aerospace components.

Airbus A340 carbon composite spoiler made with RTM
When FACC AG (Ried, Austria) contracted to fabricate a demonstration composite replacement part for a highly stressed aluminum spoiler center fitting on the Airbus A340-600, the company wanted to use resin transfer molding (RTM) because the part's complex shape would be difficult to produce consistently and

Carbon Composites for Sports Cars and Mass Market Cars
A confluence of market demand, new product development and competition among automakers fuels growth in use of carbon fiber composites.

SAMPE Wrap Up And Product Showcase
Exhibitions on both sides of the Atlantic spur optimism and spotlight innovative technology.

JEC Composites 2003 SAMPE Europe Conference Review
Paris is the debut stage for a galaxy of composites industry innovations.

AGATE Methodology Proves Its Worth
Increased availability, lower testing costs and shorter development times are among the program's achievements.

An Elegant Solution For A Big Composite Part
The rear pressure bulkhead for the Airbus A380 employs resin film infusion.

Complex Composites Lighten Nato Copter
Dutch consortium develops advanced composite critical landing gear that meets NH90 helicopter performance requirements.