South Korean carbon fiber recycling start-up scales up
With plans for growth, CATACK-H claims its solvolysis-based recycling process can reclaim high-quality fibers and resins from materials and finished parts.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Victrex, Daher, attain next-gen thermoplastic aircraft panel milestone
The developed panel is a 176-ply laminate, 32-millimeter-thick composite structure and uses Victrex AE 250 PAEK-based thermoplastic composites.
Boom rolls out supersonic test aircraft XB-1
Highlighting a 71-foot-long fuselage, carbon fiber composite airframe and a host of other notable features, the demonstrator will now be headed for its ground test program and a 100% carbon-neutral flight test in 2021.
GE Aviation GE9X engine achieves FAA certification
Ten GE9X engines have been delivered to power Boeing’s four 777X flight test airplanes after completing just under 5,000 hours and 8,000 cycles for certification.
Continental Structural Plastics develops composite EV battery enclosures
CSP’ lightweight composite and multi-material battery covers meet stringent static, dynamic and regulatory requirements for automakers.
Plastic Omnium supplies composite hydrogen storage tanks for MissionH24 cars
Plastic Omnium’s Type IV overwrapped carbon fiber tanks will be subjected to highly demanding operating conditions in terms of speed, refueling frequency and temperature.
Airbus reveals new zero-emission concept aircraft
The three concepts — all codenamed ZEROe — each represent a different approach to achieving zero-emission flight. The aircraft could enter service by 2035.
Q&A with Ethan Escowitz, CEO, Arris Composites
Ethan Escowitz visits with CW Talks to discuss Arris Composites’ Additive Molding process.
Jeff Sloan
Editor-in-Chief, CompositesWorld
Nemesis Yachts announces all-composite hydrofoil luxury yacht
Powered by a hydrogen-electric battery, solar panels and a wing sail, Nemesis One promises speed, comfort and sustainability.
Designing the ultimate stand-up fishing kayak
Apex Watercraft’s new Tyr carbon fiber/epoxy prototype reimagines the typical kayak design and promises the highest performance possible.
Researchers introduce capillary-driven method for continuous fiber 3D printing
The LITA 3D printing system from the University of Delaware shows potential for in situ cure for high-performance carbon fiber composite parts.
Demonstrating recyclable, bio-based autocomposites
The ECOXY research consortium recently developed a demonstrator automotive part constructed from recyclable flax fiber and a specialized bio-based epoxy.
Australian start-up builds first recycled carbon fiber composite surfboard
Juc Surf uses 100% recycled carbon fiber scrap materials for a more sustainable surfboard that doesn’t sacrifice performance.
University of Kentucky, ORNL partner to turn coal into high-value carbon fiber
The $10 million research partnership will focus on creating energy-efficient and cost-effective processes for the manufacturing of carbon fiber.
Braided preforms meet phase-change tooling
A program from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory adopts automated braiding and phase-change tooling for a complex geometry unmanned aircraft part.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
AIT Bridges ships first composite bridge system to the West Coast
Comprised of 12 fiberglass composite arches, the bridge was spliced, transported and reassembled on-site, expediting the building process.
CW's Carbon Fiber conference goes digital for 2020
The 2020 iteration of the annual Carbon Fiber conference, originally scheduled to take place in Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S., will be presented entirely digitally, online. The digital version of the conference, called Carbon Fiber NOW, will be presented Nov. 17-19.
HX5 thermoplastic nanocomposite presents an alternative to aluminum for space applications
Alpine Advanced Materials’ HX5 demonstrated retention of 96% mechanical performance with exposure to five million rads of gamma radiation.
BASF, Toyota collaborate for 2021 Sienna lightweighting
The 2021 Toyota Sienna features third row free-standing seatbacks and a 30% weight reduction with BASF’s 35% glass-reinforced polyamide PA6 grade Ultramid.
Boom Supersonic, Rolls-Royce collaborate on Overture aircraft engine
The agreement aims to identify a propulsion system complementary to the supersonic aircraft.
Composites launch to Mars
NASA’s recently launched Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter are supported by numerous composite materials and structures.
TU Munich gears up for full-scale Hyperloop demonstrator
As a new, university-directed research program, the Technical University of Munich Hyperloop team works to scale up its SpaceX competition-winning pod design.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Designing a carbon fiber SMC brake lever
Germany-based Blackwave GmbH’s bicycle brake lever saves 35% of the weight for a comparable aluminum part.
UMaine develops collaborative floating offshore wind demo project
The floating offshore wind demonstration project will reduce Maine’s overdependence on imported fossil fuels, produce more than $150 million in total economic output and create hundreds of jobs.
ELG Carbon Fibre, Aerocircular N.V. develop closed-loop recycling for EoL aircraft
The initiative estimates that only one-tenth of the energy typically required when producing virgin carbon fiber will be used.
Axiom Materials expands CMC product portfolio under technology license
Axiom’s expansion into c/SiC and SiC/SiC composite intermediates is licensed under the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), NITE and more.
Mitsubishi Chemical plans to acquire European carbon fiber recycling companies
Plans to acquire German companies CFK and carboNXT will further MCC’s recycling initiative in the carbon fiber composites industry.
Leonardo and CETMA: disrupting composites for lower cost and environmental impact
Italian OEM and tier supplier Leonardo works with CETMA R&D to develop new composite materials, machines and processes, including induction welding for in-situ consolidation of thermoplastic composites.