Carbon fiber market: Gathering momentum 2/29/2012 Composites Technology

All signs point to increasing demand from many market sectors. Will capacity keep pace?

SMC sandwich panels: Lean process opens doors 2/1/2012 Composites Technology

Patented process enables compression molding at lower pressures, saving capital equipment costs for panel fabrication.

The markets: Utility infrastructure (2012) 1/12/2012 Composites Technology

Electric utilities are working with composite suppliers to take advantage of fiberglass composite as a replacement for wood and metals in power transmission towers, distribution poles and cross-arms, as well as the strength members in the aluminum conductor cables they support.

The markets: Corrosion-resistance (2012) 1/6/2012 Composites Technology

The annual cost of metallic corrosion worldwide is staggering — it could reach $2.2 trillion (USD) in 2012, says the World Corrosion Organization (New York, N.Y.). Corrosion-resistant composites are ideally suited to replace metal structures, including tanks, piping, cooling towers, railcars for chemical transport and more, in this huge market sector.

The markets: Construction (2012) 1/5/2012 Composites Technology

The U.S. housing market bubble burst in 2008, triggering an epidemic of foreclosures and is now in the midst of a slow recovery that began in 2010. However, the wood plastic composites (residential decking/railing), cast polymer (bathware/countertops) and composite door and window frames sectors are expected to see significant growth.