Composites Basics

Five things you get with your CW subscription

Reliable news and information on where and how fiber-reinforced composites are being applied — that’s just the start of what you get from our team here at CompositesWorld.

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CW Tech Days — Upcoming and past events

CW Tech Days are virtual events dedicated to the topics impacting the composites industry today. Access past event recordings and register for upcoming Tech Days.

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Composites end markets: Electronics (2024)

Increasingly, prototype and production-ready smart devices featuring thermoplastic composite cases and other components provide lightweight, optimized sustainable alternatives to metal.

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Celebrating 30 years of CompositesWorld, Part 1

CW explores key composite developments that have shaped how we see and think about the industry today.

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The basics of composite drawing interpretation

Knowing the fundamentals for reading drawings — including master ply tables, ply definition diagrams and more — lays a foundation for proper composite design evaluation.

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PEEK vs. PEKK vs. PAEK and continuous compression molding

Suppliers of thermoplastics and carbon fiber chime in regarding PEEK vs. PEKK, and now PAEK, as well as in-situ consolidation — the supply chain for thermoplastic tape composites continues to evolve.

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HEATCON Composite Systems
Alpha’s Premier ESR®
Release agents and process chemical specialties
Release agents and process chemical specialties

Pultrusion: The basics

A primer describing what pultrusion is, its advantages and disadvantages, and typical applications.

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Proper application of semi-permanent mold release systems

Performing regular maintenance of the layup tool for successful sealing and release is required to reduce the risk of part adherence.

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Composites end markets: Aerospace (2023)

With COVID in the past and passengers flying again, commercial aircraft production is ramping up. The aerocomposites supply chain is busy developing new M&P for an approaching next-generation aircraft program.

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The state of recycled carbon fiber

As the need for carbon fiber rises, can recycling fill the gap?

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Materials & Processes: Tooling for composites

Composite parts are formed in molds, also known as tools. Tools can be made from virtually any material. The material type, shape and complexity depend upon the part and length of production run. Here's a short summary of the issues involved in electing and making tools.

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Materials & Processes: Fibers for composites

The structural properties of composite materials are derived primarily from the fiber reinforcement. Fiber types, their manufacture, their uses and the end-market applications in which they find most use are described.

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Keyland Polymer Webinar Coatings on Composite & AM
IRIS Ai-enabled Camera
Visual of lab with a yellow line
Airtech International Inc.

Composite rebar for future infrastructure

GFRP eliminates risk of corrosion and increases durability fourfold for reinforced concrete that meets future demands as traffic, urbanization and extreme weather increase.

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Materials & Processes: Composites fibers and resins

Compared to legacy materials like steel, aluminum, iron and titanium, composites are still coming of age, and only just now are being better understood by design and manufacturing engineers. However, composites’ physical properties — combined with unbeatable light weight — make them undeniably attractive. 

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Materials & Processes: Resin matrices for composites

The matrix binds the fiber reinforcement, gives the composite component its shape and determines its surface quality. A composite matrix may be a polymer, ceramic, metal or carbon. Here’s a guide to selection.

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The making of carbon fiber

A look at the process by which precursor becomes carbon fiber through a careful (and mostly proprietary) manipulation of temperature and tension.

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Materials & Processes: Fabrication methods

There are numerous methods for fabricating composite components. Selection of a method for a particular part, therefore, will depend on the materials, the part design and end-use or application. Here's a guide to selection.

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Top 10 Considerations When Buying a CNC Machine for Composites

For a CNC machine to continue to meet or exceed a company’s needs, it must be built and spec’d with these needs in mind.

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NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
Large Scale Additive Manufacturing
CIJECT machines and monitoring systems
Release agents and process chemical specialties

How to validate 3D-printed composite part performance

Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME) workflow simulates composite material performance to speed development, optimize performance and reduce costs for a redesigned 3D-printed CFRP bracket.

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Composites end markets: Industrial (2022)

Composites often must meet a certain aesthetic in applications where the consumer is the end user. But fiber-reinforced materials are just as valuable in industrial applications where corrosion resistance, high strength and durability are the performance key.

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How ultrasonic testing can find flaws in composite materials

As composite applications expand, so does the demand for more capable inspection systems. Ultrasound has proven to be effective when it comes to in-depth, sophisticated testing.

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The importance of resin selection

Explore how resins can affect a composite’s properties and why we should consider resin choice with the same significance as fiber.

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Thermoplastic composites at Oribi Composites: CW Trending, episode 4

Oribi Composites’ Matt Christensen discusses the origin of the Colorado-based thermoplastic composites fabricator, his role at the company, current products and programs, and the real potential for use of thermoplastic composites in wheels.

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University of Illinois Chicago leverages SwiftComp software to improve understanding of porous coatings

Software to accelerate development and adoption of new composite materials for manufacturing by predicting effects of porosity level on strength.

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Airtech
NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
Release agents and process chemical specialties
Airtech International Inc.