composite materials

  The application properties of polymeric materials and specifically fibrous materials are determined by (i) the composition and topology of individual polymer molecules at the molecular scale; (ii) the morphological interactions at the meso-scale defining the polymer microstructure; (iii) and macroscopic features at the macro-scale, hence, final product scale. A true design of these materials requires a fundamental understanding of both the polymer synthesis and the polymer (post)processing steps. The transition from chemicals to the final application needs to be studied via a modular approach, starting from the basic chemicals and evaluating the full circularity at the final product level (e.g. solar cell, drug delivery device or packaging material). Since phenomena at different scales, ranging from the molecular to the macroscopic scale, are occurring with many parameters influencing the material performance, a multi-scale modelling approach is highly recommended. Together with ...

  According to World Health Organization statistics, tens of millions of people around the world need prosthetics. This population is expected to double by 2050. Depending on the country and age group, 70% of those requiring prostheses involve the lower limbs. Currently, high-quality fiber-reinforced composite prostheses are unavailable to most lower limb amputees because of the high cost associated with their complex, handmade manufacturing process. Most carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) foot prostheses are made by hand by layering multiple layers of prepreg into a mold, then curing in a hot press tank, followed by trimming and milling, a very expensive manual procedure. With the advancement of technology, the introduction of automated manufacturing equipment for composites is expected to reduce the cost significantly. Fiber winding technology, a key composite manufacturing process, is changing the way high-performance composite prosthetics are produced, making them more effi...

Growing population and expanding urbanization worldwide require more sustainable mobility solutions to tackle global resource scarcity and climate change. As one of the most sustainable transportation modes, rail-based transport systems are taking an ever-increasing share of the mobility demand. According to the International Transport Forum (ITF) Transport Outlook 2019, the global passenger transport demand will more than double, and freight transport is expected to triple in the next 30 years. Growing Passenger Demand Requires Advanced Rail Infrastructure Composite materials are already playing an increasingly important role within the transport industries due to their lightweight nature, durability, and low environmental footprint. Composites offer significant improvements over traditional materials and provide innovative and sustainable solutions for various critical infrastructure projects. Many countries, either with well-established or rapidly growing rail networks, are explori...

  CTL’s Smart Connected Manufacturing Systems Group and the Longterm Archiving and Retrieval (LOTAR) Consortium have supported multi-year efforts to harmonize composite material standards. ASME Y14.37 enables engineering practices for the definition of composite parts, and ISO 10303 STEP (STandard for the Exchange of Product model data) enables the representation and exchange of composite part information. Harmonization of these standards provides shared vocabularies across the model-based engineering disciplines that ease product lifecycle communication, improve product quality, reduce time to market, facilitate implementation of newer technologies, and reduce manufacturing costs. While these standards are related, they are developed in different communities. Over time, advances in manufacturing of composite parts led to the standards becoming out of sync. Propagation of ISO 10303 STEP composites capabilities from ISO 10303-242 Managed model-based 3D engineering (AP242) to ISO 103...

The healing cycle for liquid-assisted self-healing metal-matrix composites. The system consists of a metallic matrix with a eutectic micro-constituent shown in black and reinforcing SMA wires shown in green (I). After catastrophic failure, the SMA wires deform to bridge the crack (II). To heal the sample, a high temperature healing treatment is initiated, during which the eutectic component melts and SMA wires close the crack (III). During cooling, the eutectic component freezes, welding the crack surfaces and eliminating the crack (IV). (Image: NASA) Fatigue endurance is critical for the airworthiness of civilian and military aging aircraft and for long-duration flight and deep space missions. NASA has developed a new metal matrix composite (MMC) that can repair itself from large fatigue cracks that occur during the service life of a structure. This novel liquid-assisted MMC recovers the strength of the structure after a healing cycle. The MMC contains both shape memory alloy (SMA) ...

  The Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator (MFFD) program was conceived in 2014 as one of three large aircraft demonstrators within the EU-funded Clean Sky 2 (CS2) initiative (now Clean Aviation) aimed at advancing innovative technologies, aircraft sustainability and a competitive supply chain in Europe. When disseminated in 2017, the MFFD program goals were ambitious: Build an 8-meter-long, 4-meter-diameter fuselage section fully from carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer (CFRTP) composites to enable production of 60-100 aircraft/month with a 10% reduction in fuselage weight and 20% cut in recurring cost. By the project’s end in 2024, overall technology readiness level (TRL) for such a fuselage will be advanced to TRL 5. From 2017-2019, Airbus Research & Technology (Bremen, Germany) , as the MFFD project leader, issued 13 CS2 calls for proposal CfP07–CfP11 for work topics such as automated assembly plant for a thermoplastic fuselage, micromechanics of welded joints, ...

Premier Composite Technologies (PCT) the leading global supplier of advanced composite components for the architectural market is proud to announce its launch of a new Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) division. In a bid to broaden its offerings to the market, PCT will launch the new market area to appeal to designers who require an alternative solution to building with resin based advanced composites. Instead, GRC and UHPC are cement based composites that offer alternative benefits in terms of performance, appearance and cost parameters. The expansion will be headed up by Ian Campbell who has over 20 year’s experience of working within the market in Ireland, UK, Europe and the Middle East. With a wide scope of knowledge in the designing and production of concrete based architectural facades, Ian has worked with engineers and architects on creating bespoke solutions for a vast number of projects. Comments Hannes Waimer, MD, PCT: “This expansio...