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.

Hybrid thermoplastic molding: Toughening automotive composites
Tailored D-LFT with continuous and discontinuous glass offers best combination of strength, moldability.

JEC 2013 at first blush
CT Editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan risks some immediate reactions to his week in Paris at the JEC Europe 2013 composites trade show.

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.

3A Composites, Dow to develop structural core materials for wind applications
The two companies will cooperate to combine 3A Composites' customized core material solutions with service provided by Dow's wind blade technologies.

Epoxy resin systems
Dow Formulated Systems

Gastank Sweden receives type certification for Type IV CNG cylinders
The compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks are made with Dow's VORAFORCE TW toughened epoxy systems and HiPer-tex glass fiber from 3B.

Market Outlook: Surplus in carbon fiber's future?
Participants at CW’s Carbon Fiber 2012 Conference see one coming as early as 2016.

Composites slake the world's thirst
As the global thirst for drinkable water increases, the composites industry is drinking in the tremendous possibilities in seawater desalination.

Dow Polyurethanes fast-cure resins featured in composite manhole cover
Developed by Italy-based firm Industrie Polieco and Dow Polyurethanes, the KIO line of composite manhole covers is made with Dow's VORAFORCE fast-cure LFI polyurethane system.

Industrial corrosion control: Huge opportunities
Fiber-reinforced plastic is the ideal but still widely ignored option in environments that eat away at most metal alloys. Opportunities abound, but the key is still education.

Carbon fiber update: Fiber sources gear up for expected increase in demand
Currently, the market for carbon fiber composites is estimated at $10 billion (USD) globally, and observers expect that it could reach as high as $40 billion by 2022.

The evolution of infusion
As resin infusion continues to infiltrate composites, fabricators across the market spectrum drive materials and process developments in pursuit of process control.

Dow, Aksa form carbon fiber joint venture
After agreeing last December to form a joint venture, the Dow Chemical Co. and Turkey-based Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.Ş. (Aksa) have created DowAksa Advanced Composites Holdings BV to manufacture and commercialize carbon fiber and derivatives.

Dow, Ford, Oak Ridge win federal grant for carbon fiber precursor development
The U.S. Department of Energy is granting $9 million, combined with $4.5 in private funds, to Dow, Ford and Oak Ridge National Labs for the development of a carbon fiber precursor based on polyelefin instead of the traditional polyacrylonitrile (PAN).

Carbon fiber market: Gathering momentum
All signs point to increasing demand from many market sectors. Will capacity keep pace?

Biz Briefs
Business briefs from Composites One, Dow Chemical, AKSA and Cargo Composites.

Dow, Oak Ridge National Laboratory developing polyolefin-based carbon fiber precursor
Technical news service ICIS reports that Dow Chemical and Oak Ridge National Laboratory are working together to develop a carbon fiber precursor based on polyelefins to help reduce the cost of carbon fiber.

Dow, Aksa form carbon fiber joint venture
Under terms of the agreement, Dow and Aksa will each hold a 50 percent stake in the joint venture; total investment in the project is expected to reach $1 billion in five years and create up to 1,000 employment opportunities.

WINDPOWER 2011 Report
Wind energy advocates, turbine builders and their suppliers, policy makers, and a growing number of wind-involved composites professionals gather where it all began.

Oak Ridge establishes carbon fiber composites consortium
The 14 companies in the Oak Ridge Carbon Fiber Composites Consortium will work to accelerate the development, demonstration and commercial application of new low-cost carbon fiber and composites.

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

Foam core system for wind blades
Dow Formulated Systems, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co. has introduced the COMPAXX 700 foam core system for wind blades, the first in a line of new core materials for wind blade applications.

Dow, AKSA explore joint venture to manufacture carbon fiber
Under the joint venture, the companies will work together to create fully-integrated production facilities for the manufacture and supply of carbon fibers and derivatives.

JEC Composites Paris: 2011 Product Showcase
The news from this annual Parisian in-gathering of composites professionals is heavily weighted toward automotive lightweighting.

Interior innovation: The value proposition
OEMs and Tier suppliers ask materials and molding processes to go “green” and do more for less.

MAG wins grant to develop automated wind blade layup system
MAG will use $5 million grant to work with partners Astraeus Wind Energy, Dowding Machining and Dow Chemical to develop layup system for automated production of wind blades.

Michigan grant may accelerate low-cost carbon fiber
The Dow Chemical Co. announced on Feb. 25 that it received a $5 million grant from the Centers of Energy Excellence program through the Michigan Economic Development Corp. to help accelerate efforts to manufacture a lower-cost carbon fiber for use in industrial market applications, including transportation.

Dow, Oak Ridge will develop cost-effective carbon fiber
A grant from the state of Michigan will help Dow and Oak Ridge accelerate efforts to develop low-cost carbon fiber for industrial market applications.

Astraeus, Energetx receive Michigan energy development funds
Both companies, involved in manufacture of wind energy systems, received funds from the state of Michigan to support their research and expansion efforts.

SPE's ACCE 2009 Show Preview
The Society’s 2009 Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition charts an industry at a crossroads.

Resin systems update: The greening of thermosets
 Thermoset resin formulators seek environmental benefits as customers demand reduced cost and increased performance.

Dow settles agreement to buy Rohm and Haas
Rohm and Haas had filed litigation against Dow in January, but a settlement has cleared the way for Dow to acquire the chemical company on April 1, 2009.

The matrix
The matrix material binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines the quality of its surface. A matrix can be polymeric, ceramic or metallic. Polymer matrices are the most widely used for composites in commercial and high-performance aerospace applications.

Composites firm attracts investment for energy-related structures
Angel investor group BlueWater Angels has given $200,000 to Fulcrum Composites for the research, development and marketing of its alternative energy business venture.

Dow announces job cuts, plant closures
Dow will cut 5,000 employees and close 20 plants in an effort to save $700 million annually.

Dow Chemical to Acquire Rohm and Haas
Chemical suppliers The Dow Chemical Co. (Midland, Mich.) and Rohm and Haas (Philadelphia, Pa.) have signed a definitive agreement under which Dow will acquire all outstanding shares of Rohm and Haas common stock for $78 (USD) per share in cash. Rohm and Haas is expected to retain its name and headquarters in Philade

Dow to acquire Rohm and Haas
The deal cements Dow's position as a chemical powerhouse. Rohm and Haas is expected to retain its name and headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa.

Bio-Composites Update: Bio-Based Resins Begin to Grow
Substituting agricultural for fossil-based feedstocks in polymer resins is not new, but maturing technology now promises composites less dependent on petrochemicals for their performance.

Inside Manufacturing: Multiphase Process Forms Complex Shapes
Manufacturer adds extrusion and injection molding to thermoplastic pultrusion process to produce corrosion-resistant threaded rod.