Epoxy for high-pressure RTM
Huntsman Advanced Materials introduced at JEC Europe 2013 the latest version of its Araldite epoxy resin matrix, formulated specifically for use in KraussMaffei’s high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) process.

JEC Europe 2013 new product showcase
The JEC Europe 2013 trade show (March 12-14, at the Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles, Paris, France) was the venue for introductions of a large number of new composite materials, technologies and manufacturing processes. Here's the CT editorial staff's compilation of what was on display.

Huntsman Advanced Materials embarks on global transformation program
Parent company Huntsman Corp. (The Woodlands, Texas) sees the effort as a key part of its ongoing effort to improve the division's manufacturing efficiencies and commercial viability and ensure its long-term global competitiveness.

An impec-able bike frame: Handmade by machine
Long on technology firsts, this optimized, automated manufacturing process produces nothing short of the “perfect” bike frame.

Material selection optimizes power-to-weight ratio for twin-masted catamaran
Composites are the key when Pauger Carbon Composites (Budapest, Hungary) builds the Fifty-Fifty, a twin-mast catamaran, the design objective for which is the best possible power-to-weight ratio for high speed over long distances.

Rapid layup: New 3-D preform technology
Hook-and-loop fasteners speed layup of carbon, aramid, glass and hybrid fabrics while improving composites’ mechanical performance.

Resin for automotive part cycle times
Huntsman Advanced Materials focused on new products for fast and cost-competitive processing.

JEC Europe 2012 report
A big, busy show and a big variety of new developments boded well for the industry’s future.

2012 JEC Europe Highlights
JEC’s annual Paris exhibition reports impressive attendance figures as exhibitors tout big news.

The markets: Automotive (2012)
High fuel costs, the recent recession, government bailouts and ever-higher fuel efficiency standards combined to rock the automotive world in the 2008-2010 time frame. The situation left OEMs highly motivated to lightweight their vehicles to improve fuel economy.

SAMPE Tech 2011 in Texas
The Society’s annual fall gathering fills an exhibition hall this year nearly as big as the host state.

SPE ACCE 2011: Growing again
The Society of Plastics Engineers’ 11th conference on automotive composites fields a top slate of speakers and attracts its largest crowd.

Flax fiber racing boat completes Transat race
Huntsman's Araldite resin system is the namesake for a 50 percent flax fiber boat that completes the France-to-Brazil Transat 6.50 race in 15th place.

REACH-compliant adhesives
Huntsman Advanced Materials has introduced three epoxy adhesives, for use by aerospace manufacturers and maintenance/repair organizations, that are compliant with the European Union’s Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulations.

Primary structure repair: The quest for quality
Composite airframes on commercial craft drive development of automated repair technology and industry-wide repair technician certification.

New Briefs: Oct. 17, 2011
MVP announces rebranding, new logo to emphasize capabilities; Huntsman epoxy adhesive wins Germanischer Lloyd approval; HEATCON launches new website for students and faculty.

REACH-compliant adhesives
Huntsman Advanced Materials has introduced three high-performance REACH-compliant epoxy adhesives for use by aerospace manufacturers and component suppliers for fabrication, assembly and repair.

Huntsman material featured in new carbon fiber racing yacht
The CODE8 carbon fiber racing yacht, designed by Andrej Justin and manufactured by Carbon Innovation Ltd., uses Huntsman material in tooling, prepreg, bonding and other applications.

F1-inspired MonoCell: Racing safety for the road
Resin transfer molding makes CFRP passenger cell mass-producible for new model supercar.

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

European composites consortium completes three-year study
Led by ESI Group, the PreCarBi consortium was to develop new binder composite materials that allow preform designs to be manufactured and shaped under high temperature, or local tow reinforcement to be added under high temperature.

JEC Composites 2010 Product Showcase
Although clouds of volcanic ash shut down postshow air traffic, the traffic on the show floor helped 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.

Composites fuel growth of fuel cell technology
Composite components in hydrogen fuel cell systems help handle higher heat and reduce stack size.

People briefs -- HPC, July 2009
People news from Coast Composites, Lectra and Huntsman.

JEC COMPOSITES 2009 Product Showcase
Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.

JEC Composites 2009 showcase
 Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.

COMPOSITES+POLYCON 2009 Showcase
Despite the deepening recession, composites pros returned to the show in its new time slot to explore the wealth of products and services collected here.

SAMPE Europe/JEC Composites 2009 preview
SAMPE Europe’s 30th annual spring conclave and the nearby JEC Composites Show characterize the latest in material and process technologies.

News briefs -- Jan. 27, 2009
Gurit reports 2008 earnings; Resinal to distribute Chroma products in Mexico; NetComposites launches composites industry jobs site; Royal Cosun, Avantium announce bioplastics initiative; Duoline promotes Tim Stewart to FRP supervisor; High Modulus names Paul Goddard CEO; Huntsman announces job cuts; Hypertherm expands sales team in Western Canada; IPS names Karen Brock Amoah sales and marketing manager; Jet Edge begins selling used equipment online; Menzolit names Roberto Lazzari sales manager for Italy and Southeast Europe; Materials & Sensors Technologies to host NDT seminar April 20-22.

Composites ride and support the rails
Increased ridership and heavier axle loads on rail systems around the world signal a potential boon for composites. 

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.

Huntsman, Hexion end merger effort
The on-again, off-again merger of the chemical giants is now officially off. Huntsman walks away with $1 billion.

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).

Hexion parent Apollo gives $540 million for Huntsman deal
Apollo Management LP, parent of Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc., will contribute $540 million toward Hexion's efforts to acquire Huntsman Corp.

COMPOSITESWORLD EXPO Showcase
The inaugural COMPOSITESWORLD Expo Conference and Exhibition draws participants from all segments of the industry, including many new faces.

Delaware court finds in favor of Huntsman in Hexion case
A Delaware court says Hexion must move forward with plans to acquire Huntsman Corp.

Prototyping and manufacturing by additive fabrication
 Additive fabrication (AF) technology, such as laser sintering (LS) and fused deposition modeling (FDM), encompasses a wide range of applications. The earliest was rapid prototyping to support design, concept modeling, fit/function testing, and pattern making without the need to construct expensive tooling for prototypes and test articles. Manufacturers also are using AF to produce jigs, fixtures, drill guides, and other manufacturing and assembly tools.

Huntsman declares forece majeure on products affected by Hurricane Ike
Several of Huntsman's factilities in Texas were affected by the storm, forcing the company to temporarily halt production.

Huntsman, Hexion plot thickens
Hexion has rejected an offer by a group of Huntsman investors to invest $500 million should the merger of Huntsman and Hexion take place.

Huntsman, Hexion Merger Devolves Into Legal Battle
Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. (Columbus, Ohio) and Huntsman Corp. (The Woodlands, Texas) have filed suit against each other in a legal battle that erupted following the failure of a proposed merger of the two chemical giants. The merger was first proposed during summer 2007 and followed an earlier bid by Basell

Composite Hulled Land/Sea Vehicle Nears Launch
Once the stuff of James Bond movies, this U.K.-designed amphibious automobile soon will be manufactured in North America.

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.

JEC COMPOSITES Show highlights
The annual gathering in Paris reflects the industry’s confidence that the market’s global growth will continue.

Hexion Extends Termination Date on Huntsman Merger - 4/1/2008
Huntsman Corp. (The Woodlands, Texas) announced in late January that it has received notice from Hexion Specialty Chemicals Inc. (Carpentersville, Ill.) that Hexion will exercise its right, under its merger agreement with Huntsman, to extend the agreement’s termination date by 90 days from April 5 to July 4, 2008. The

Stereolithography resin
Huntsman Advanced Materials (The Woodlands, Texas) has introduced RenShape SL 7870, a low-viscosity, stable, water-clear stereolithography resin for the production of models and prototype parts with glass-like clarity after processing, according to the CIELAB color scale. Reportedly suitable for use with solid state

Formulating challenge: Creating better epoxies for vacuum-infused aerospace parts
More attention is being focused on fabricating processes for aircraft structures that can save time and money and improve efficiency while yielding high-quality parts. Historically, nearly all aircraft designers have assumed autoclave cure as the norm, despite the well-documented cost and time advantages of

Out-of-autoclave tooling gets out of the blocks
General aviation aircraft manufacturer adopts new oven-cure tooling.

Huntsman to develop new resin for fuel cells
Huntsman Advanced Materials (Everberg, Belgium) is joining forces with GrafTech International subsidiary  Advanced Energy Technology (AET, Lakewood, Ohio) to develop a new binder formulation for use in fuel cell bi-polar plates for automotive and military vehicles. Bi-polar plates are key components of fuel cell power systems, which convert hydrogen to electricity in a process entirely free of volatile organic compound emissions (for more, see CT November/December 2001, p. 40).