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From carbon fiber to nanotubes Carbon transforms wind farm access Why not composites in ships?
www.reinforcedplastics.com
the voice of the composites industry worldwide
MARCH/APRIL 20
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Submit your paper today
www.nanoenergyjournal.com
‘Research in energy will be at the core of science andtechnology for decades to come, and will affect the qualityof life for every one of us. My intention is that the
journal of Nano Energy will become a leading platform tocommunicate global research in green and sustainableenergy using nanomaterials and nanotechnology.’
Z.L. Wang, Editor-in-Chief
School of Materials Science & Engineering,Georgia Institute of Technology, 500 10th Street NW,
Atlanta, GA 30332, USA, Email: [email protected]
Nano Energy publishes original experimentaland theoretical research on all aspects ofenergy-related research which utilizes nanomaterialsand nanotechnology. Manuscripts of four types are considered: reviewarticles which inform readers of the latest research and advances in
energy science; rapid communications which feature exciting researchbreakthroughs in the fi eld; full-length articles which report comprehensiveresearch developments; and news and opinions which comment on
topical issues or express views on the developments in related fi elds.
The editors welcome contributions on a variety of topics such as:Batteries | Fuel Cells | Hydrogen generation and storage | Light emittingdiodes | Optoelectronic devices for effi cient energy usage | Photovoltaics| Piezoelectric nanogenerators | Policy and perspectives in energy | Self-
powered nanodevices/nanosystems | Supercapacitors | Thermoelectrics
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CONTENTS 1
March/April 2015
Volume 59 Number 2
pp. 57–102
Image: Innovation at JEC: Scott Bader exhibited
the Spanish Ariane 3 racing motorcycle at JEC.
It includes the company’s Crystic gel-coated
and vacuum infused carbon fiber Crestapol
1250LV resin composite body panel parts,
bonded with Crestabond structural adhesive.
Photo Scott Bader.
REGULAR SECTIONS
57 RP Rewind
58 Applications
66 Business
75 Technology
100 Events
Reinforced Plastics, ISSN 00343617, is published bi-monthly by Elsevier Ltd, OX5 1GB, United Kingdom.
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CONTENTS 2
FEATURES
82 From carbon fiber to nanotubes: when size mattersLaurie Winkless
86 Carbon transforms wind farm access
George Marsh
90 Why not composites in ships?Stella Job
94 Characterization and simulation of structural fabrics – Part 1:
A cross-industry review of approaches to composites engineeringTom James
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Research for a better world
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Atlas shares research that can significantlyimpact people’s lives around the world.Read the award winning stories:
‘SuperAmma’ to the hand washing rescueThe Lancet Global Health
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Making construction safety socialAutomation in Construction
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Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015 RP REWIND
RP RewindLiz Nickels leafs through past issues of Reinforced Plastics to find out what was happening in the PM industry of thepast.5 years ago. . .
‘Theautomotive industry has started to takecarbon fiber composites very seriously,’ said
editor Amanda Jacob, highlighting some of
the new partnerships between composite
manufacturers and automotive companies
this month. The latest partnership focusing
on the volume production of composites
for automotive use was Audi and Voith,
while fellow German car makers BMW
and Daimler (Mercedes Benz) had already
setup jointventures to develop carbonfiber
components for their vehicles with SGL and
Toray, respectively.
Asia led growth in global wind power this
month, growing 35.8 GW in 2010 bringing
total global capacity to 194.4 GW–up 22.5%
from 2009, according to the Global Wind
Energy Council (GWEC). Asia accounted for
19 GW of new global wind power installa-
tions, driven by China, which installed
16.5 GW. With 42.3 GW of wind power,
China surpassed the US in terms of total
installed capacity.
However, the global wind power market
was down for the first time in 20 years and
new installations fell 7% compared to 2009,
mainly due to a disappointing year in the
USA, as wellas a slowdownin Europe. Unlike
previous years, more than half of installa-
tions were outside the traditional markets of
Europe andNorthAmerica andthe USsaw its
annual wind power installations halve from
10 GW in 2009 to just over 5 GW in 2010.
10 years ago. . . Reinforced Plastics celebrated its 50th anni-
versary. Launched in September 1956 by a
small London-based publisher, the maga-
zine was acquired by global media groupElsevier in 1989 and since then has grown
in both content and readership to become
the industry’s only truly global magazine,
read and respected by composites suppliers
and manufacturers allaround theworld. So,
happy 60th birthday Reinforced Plastics!
The magazine also featured the Earthrace
project, which aimed to break the world
record for circumnavigating the globe in a
powerboat using only biodiesel renewable
fuel. The eco-friendly vessel, designed by
LOMOcean Design and built by Calibre
Boats in Auckland, New Zealand featured a
hull composed of a composite carbon fiber
and kevlar with a non-toxic anti-fouling
paint.
However, as it turned out, the first
attempt at the global circumnavigation
record in 2007 turned out to be ill-fated,
with the boat several times encountering
mechanical problems. It later collided with
a Guatemalan fishing boat, killing one of
the other boat’s crew. While the crew of the
Earthrace was later absolved of any respon-
sibility, the delay forced the restart of the
record attempt, while more mechanical
issues later aborted it. In 2009 the re-named
and repainted powerboat collided with a
Japanese craft during anti-whaling opera-
tions. A salvage operation was abandoned,
with the vessel sinking the next day.
20 years ago. . .‘The interest generated by JEC seems to
grow almost exponentially every year,’ said
editor Amanda Weaver, noting the growth
in composites shows worldwide. ‘It is now
time that this pre-eminence was recognizedand the composites calendar was rational-
ized. There is certainly room for a number
of composites events throughout Europe
but why not aim to be complimentary
rather than competitive.’ TheJEC Company
created in December 1996 as a subsidiary of
CPC, the Center for Promotion of Compo-
sites, has reportedly increased sixfold in
scope, network and number of employees
since then.
In India there was news that fibe
reinforced plastic (FRP) has superseded
aluminum and steel as the material o
choice for making the roof, floor and win
dow panels of buses in India. M/s PEETEE
Coach Builders used chopped strand mat
from FGP Ltd, Hyderabad, and polyester
resin from M/s Naphta Resins & Chemicals
Ltd, Bangalore.
An unusual application for glass fiber
reinforced plastic was reported when an
aquarium was researching suitable materials
for its fish-carrying tanks. For this job specia
tankshad to be built and fared onto the deck
of a boat that would be sturdy and not give
off any toxic or harmful substances.
The basic tank was constructed of marine
plywood reinforced with AFI Fiberglass
chopped strandmat andwovenroving both
inside and outside. Polyester resin was used
on the outside and special solvent-free Wes
System epoxy with a ceramic epoxy flow-
coat was used on the inside. The material
turned out to be to be strong, light, durable
long lasting, smooth on the inside and
above all environmentally-friendly.
0034-3617/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.repl.2015.01.04957
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Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015 APPLICATIONS
Applications[Composite hatch cover approved for use in commercial shipThe first ever approval of a structural com-
posite part for a commercial ship was an-
nounced at the E-LASS (European networkfor lightweight applications at sea) meeting
in Southampton, UK on 14th January. The
designer, Ragnar Hansen of Hansen Engi-
neering, described the process which led to
approval being received from Panama Mar-
itime Authority on 11th December 2014 for
retrofit of FRP (fibre reinforced plastic)
hatch covers to replace traditional steel
ones on a bulk carrier.
The design for the 17 [m 8 m FRP hatch
covers has several benefits. It reduces
weight (typically [35–40% of steel), result-
ing in fuelsavingand/or increased cargo, as
well as easier crane handling and lighter
motors. No corrosion means better seal
performance, reducing risk of damage to
cargo.
[Approval for conversion has been given
for a 225 [m 32 m cargo vessel owned by
Danish shipping company Nordic Bulk Car-
riers AS. Hansen worked with classification
society DNV-GL and fire experts at SP Tech-
nical Research Institute of Sweden to pro-
vide the design and risk assessment for the
conversion project specification developed
by Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. Tommy
Hertzberg, chair of E-LASS and a fire re-
searcher at SP, describes this as a break-
through.
The IMO SOLAS (International Maritime
Organization Safety of Life at Sea) regula-
tions are based on steel and require struc-
tural materials to be non-combustible,
although an alternative design approach
with risk analysis has been possible since
2002. This is the first time a composite part
has been approved using the alternative
design approach. A current IMO committee
is developing guidelines to help national
authorities to assess FRP designs.
For a fuller discussion[6_TD DIFF], see ‘Why not
Composites in Ships?’.
[
Stella Job
Panamax Bulk Carrier. Photo courtesy of Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd.
580034-3617/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.repl.2015.02.014
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[Scott Bader showcases new applications at JECScott Bader exhibited a range of new appli-
cations featuring its advanced composites
materials and adhesives at the JEC Compo-
sites show which took place in March.
New applications on display included the
Spanish Ariane 3 racing motorcycle which
includes the company’s Crystic gel-coatedand vacuum infused carbon fiber Crestapol
1250LV resin composite body panel parts,
bonded with Crestabond structural adhesive.
Also on show was a new design carbon
fiber racing canoe for the Estonian Olympic
squad, also Crystic gel-coated and vacuum
moulded using Crestapol 1250LV infusion
resin.
New innovationsNew for 2015 is ‘GelTint’, a fully automat-
ed, high speed gelcoat volumetric tinting
and colour matching service developed by
Scott Bader’s R & D group, which was offi-
cially launched at JEC Europe. According to
Scott Bader, this new gelcoat service is able
to rapidly fulfil orders in 20 kg batches for a
pigmented gelcoat from the full RAL colour
range, with the new tinting system also able
to colour match to order from a suitable
sample provided. The new volumetric tint-
ing system can pigment any gelcoat base
resin and brush and spray grades are offeredacross the Crystic gelcoat range. Currently
the ‘GelTint’ service is only available to UK
customers, but plans are already in place to
extend the service more locally across Eur
ope and beyond later in the year.
Scott Bader; www.scottbader.com
[
[Dyneema chains could replace steelDSM Dyneema has formed a partnership
with Load Solutions AS based in Bergen,
Norway to develop link chains made with
Dyneema fiber.
The industrial link chains used for han-
dling heavy loads and lashing cargo are
traditionally made of iron or steel. These
chains, called TYCAN, are made from web-
bings made of DSM’s ultrahigh molecular
weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) fiber.
According to the company, the chains
have economic, environmental and safety
advantages over traditional chains. ‘DSM
Dyneema and Load Solutions came togeth-
er because we both understood the over-
whelming advantages of link chains made
with Dyneema,’ says Dietrich Wienke, man-
ager of new business development at DSM
Dyneema. ‘Our fiber is the only fiber in the
world capable of giving the TYCAN chains
what they need: superior strength at lowest
weight, unbeatable bending fatigue and
abrasion resistance, plus excellent outdoor
performance and endurance even in very
harsh operating conditions.’
Float on waterThe fiber also makes the chains resistant to
chemicals and seawater-proof, and because
Dyneema has a density of less than one,
TYCAN is reportedly the only chain in the
world that floats on water.
The chains canbe wrapped over the edges
of cargo without suffering any damage and
withstand the sorts of shock loads that may
occur on ships sailing through very stormy
weather, without any stretching that might
cause the cargo to shift. Chains are also
more flexible than ropes for holding heavy
loads, and it is very easy to shorten link
chains to the required length for any par-
ticular job, by doubling them back using
hooks.
The TYCAN chains can hold in place a
wind turbine wing weighing six tonnes, a
60-tonne battle tank, or even a 600-tonne
electrical mega power transformer, the
company says.
The chains have already passed the
first and second levels of certification
by DNV GL, the international classifica
tion society, while full and final certifica
tion of the chains is expected in early
2015.
DSM Dyneema; www.dyneema.com[
[IACMI backs composite natural-gas vehicle fuel tanksA research team led by the University of
Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) plans to
research the development affordable com-
posite natural-gas vehicle fuel tanks under
the new Institute for Advanced Composites
Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).
UDRI will lead the initiative for the
development of compressed-gas storage
vessels for the automotive and trucking
industry. ‘The demand for compressed nat-
ural gas as a lower-cost, cleaner-burning
alternative to diesel and gasoline fuel for
vehicles continues togrow,’ saidBrianRice,
who heads the Research Institute’s multi-
scale composites and polymers division
and will serve as director for the com-
pressed-gas storage initiative. ‘In order for
natural gas fuel to be efficiently and safely
used to power vehicles, the transportation
industry needs an affordable, lightweight
but high-strength compressed-gas fue
tank. Our team will work to design and
develop tanks and manufacturing process
es that can be mass produced at low cost
Spanish racing motorcycle Ariane 3, with carbon
fiber reinforced body panel parts, molded by
Karbonius for ArianTech Ingenieria, S.L.
Because the fiber has a density of less than one,
TYCAN is reportedly the only chain in the world
that floats on water.
Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015 APPLICATIONS
59
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while minimizing energy use and waste
production.’
Rice said the research and development
through the initiative will target semi-trail-
er trucks first, followed by commercial box
trucks and, eventually, automobiles.
Besides developing materials and
manufacturing processes, the com-
pressed-gas storage initiative team will al-
so work to develop jobs to meet the
workforce created by the initiative, as well
as to educate and train workers to fill
them.
University of Dayton Research Institute
(UDRI); www.udri.udayton.edu
[Lightweight canoes feature TeXtreme fiber fabricsCanadian canoe manufacturer Swift Canes
& Kayaks has released a version of their
Keewaydin 16 model, featuring TeXtreme
Spread Tow carbon fabrics.
The company has also introduced its
Prospector 16 model built with a TeXtreme
hybrid fabric made of co-mingled carbon
fiber and Innegra tapes at the Toronto Boat
Show.
‘Advancements in carbon fiber technol-
ogy are changing the way we design pro-
ducts,’ said Bill Swift, President of Swift
Canoe & Kayaks. ‘It has changed the ap-
proach of the automotive, sailing, hockey,
cycling, and aerospace worlds, to name a
few, and its effect on the paddle sports
industry is growing exponentially. Using
TeXtreme creates an ultra-lightweight
canoe that’s got an unmatched strength
to weight ratio. Using our signature resin
infusion process, the TeXtreme cloth gen-
erates a unique pattern on the hull that’s
coupled with increased abrasion resis-
tance compared to our standard carbon
cloth.’
[Weight savingsUsing TeXtreme can achieve weight savings
of about [
20-30% on the finished composite
parts, compared to when using convention-
al carbon fiber reinforcements, the compa-
ny says.
TeXtreme; [www.textreme.com
[
[Ford develops carbon fiber ‘‘supercar’’Ford has developed the Ford GT, a
lightweight aerodynamic vehicle which
makes extensive use of carbon fiberparts.
Theparts include a carbonfiber passenger
cell and body panels, while the front and
rear subframes are made of aluminum
encapsulated in structural carbon fiber.
The car features the new twin-turbo-
charged Ford EcoBoost V6 engine which
produces more than 600 horsepower. The
supercar features rear-wheel drive, a mid-
mounted engine, and a two-door coupe
body shell.
The GT is one of more than 12 new
Ford Performance vehicles available by2020.
Ford; www.ford.com
[
The TeXtreme cloth generates a unique pattern
on the hull.
The Ford GT, a lightweight aerodynamic vehicle which makes extensive use of carbon fiber parts.
APPLICATIONS Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015
60
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[Lehmann & Voss & Co develops new material for gear wheelsLehmann & Voss & Co has developed new
composite materials for the production of
plastic gear wheels that are more resilient
even at elevated temperatures.
LUVOCOM 1-8181 and 1-8520 carbon-
fiber filled PA 66 have been especially de-
veloped for gear wheels subject to higherloads. The materials’ strengths at room tem-
perature and at 1208C have been increased
by approximately 100% compared with
POM, and they also have a specially
adjusted impact strength. The continuous
operating temperature is 1208C and 1508C
for short periods.
According to the company, plastic gear
wheels are displacing conventional metal
designs in many industrial applications due
to their good processing characteristics and
cost-effective large-series production, along
with high noise insulation, low weight,functional integration and chemical resis-
tance. Thermally resistant plastic gear
wheels are particularly in demand within
the engine compartment.
Lehmann & Voss & Co; www.lehvoss.de
[2H Offshore develops new composite pipe design2H Offshore, an Acteon company, has
joined with oil and gas industry
leaders to develop a new design guideline
for thermoplastic composite pipes
(TCP).
Theaim of theJoint IndustryProject (JIP)
is to improve the understanding and use
of composite materials in the offshore
industry.
It began in October and will take a year to
complete.
‘Our involvement in this JIP underlines
our commitment to supporting the use of
composite materials within the offshore
industry,’ said Tim Eyles, managing direc-
tor, 2H. ‘Composite pipes have many
advantages. Their good fatigue perfor-
mance and reduced cross-sectional weight
may help to overcome technical chal
lenges in the industry, especially in deeper
water and harsh environments. 2H ha
experience in using composite materials
in risers and is committed to using emerg
ing technologies to find the best technica
solutions to meet the needs of our
clients.’
2H Offshore; [www.2hoffshore.com
[Russia composite center to produce FRP busesRUSSIAN ENGINEERING HUB the Nano-
technological Center of Composites and
Hungarian engineering company Evopro
have signed an agreement to produce mod-
ular buses with composite bodies.The first batch of 50 buses will be pro-
duced in 2015.
Production of composite modules via
vacuum infusion, RTM, and long fiber in-
jection will be powered by the Nanotech-
nological Center of Composites, and the
bus parts will be sent to Hungary for final
assembly, including installation of engine,
chassis, gluing in glasses and installation of
other elements.
‘‘A modular approach allows the produc-
tion of wide range of vehicles in the most
cost-effective way, from compact and man-
oeuvrable buses and trolley buses, which
could be compared to mini-buses, to capa-
cious multi-section buses and trolley bus-
es,’’ said Csaba Meszaros, president oEvopro Group. ‘‘Apart from properties of
the body, clients will be able to choose type
of propulsion system: a bus can run on
diesel, CNG or electricity.’’
Weight reductionThe buses’ self-supporting composite bod
ies can help reduce vehicle weight along
with fuel/power consumption and exhaust
fuels emissions.
According to the company, plastic gear wheels are displacing conventional metal designs in many
industrial applications.
The buses’ self-supporting composite bodies can
help reduce vehicle weight.
Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015 APPLICATIONS
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‘‘The roleof theNanotechnological Cen-
ter is not limited to manufacturing. Com-
pany engineers are also involved in bus
body optimisation,’’ said Mikhail Sto-
lyarov, general director of the Nanotech-
nological Center of Composites. ‘‘We will
develop a complete set of design and pro-
cess documentation allowing us to launch
licence manufacturing anywhere in the
world.’’
Nanotechnological Center of Composites;
www.hccomposite.com
[NASA grant to create composite Lego in Space
An engineer from the University of Massa-chusetts in the US has been awarded a grant
from NASA to develop composite materials
for use in space.
TheNASAEarly Career FacultySpaceTech-
nology Research Grant program is designed
to accelerate the development of innovative
technologies in academia that address the
needs in America’s space program as well as
other government agencies and the com-
mercial flight industry. Hansen’s grant is
worth approximately US$579,000 spread
over a period of three years.
Mechanical engineering assistant profes-
sor Chris Hansen’s project, entitled ‘‘Design
and Fabrication of Aerospace-Grade Digital
Composite Materials,’’ was identified by the
space agency as a technology that could
address the challenges in developing light-
weight and multifunctional construction
materials and structures for use in future
science and human exploration missions.
Typical materials used on Earth to build
structures, such as aluminum and steel, can
be heavy and expensive to send into space.
Lightweight parts‘A kilogram of material can cost up to
US$10,000 to fly into space due to the fuel
requirements of the booster rocket,’ said
Hansen, who is the principal investigator
for the project. ‘That’s why NASA is inter-
ested in funding research to develop very
strong yet lightweight components or
building blocks made of fiber-reinforced
composite materials.’
Hansen’s goal is to create a range of one-
dimensional struts and two-dimensional
plates components that can be assembled
into a panel, sphere, cube, cylinder, boom,
like space Lego, where interlocking pieces
can be assembled in many ways to build a
whole range of structures — from pressur-
ized crew and laboratory modules to exter-
nal trusses, nodes, solar arrays, antennas
and other components like those found
in the International Space Station.
‘My research aims to conduct fundamen-
tal computational design and optimization
of composite materials followed by experi-mentation in order to manufacture parts
and test structures for aerospace applica-
tions,’ he said.
Material choiceHe will use fabrication techniques such as
pultrusion and 3D printing to make the
composite materials. To create the struts,
he will use either carbon or boron fibers.
‘Carbon fibers are light and are excellent
in handling tensionalload, but notcompres-
sion,’ he said. ‘Boron fibers are slightlyheavier and more expensive, but perform
better with compression. Our choice of ma-
terial will depend on the load applied to the
structure.’
He adds: ‘Another unique aspect of this
project is ‘‘reversibility.’’ Anything con-
structed can be taken apart again and the
pieces reused to make other new structures.’
‘Once again, every kilogram you have to
send up into space is very expensive so if
you can harvest even half of the materials
already in orbit and reuse them to form a
new structure, that would be very helpful in
terms of time, energy and cost. NASA is
always interested in reducing the cost of
launches, reusing materials and reducing
a mission’s environmental impact for a
more sustainable future.’
University of Massachusetts;
www.massachusetts.edu
Hansen’s goal is to create a range of one-
dimensional struts and two-dimensional plates
components that can be assembled into a panel,sphere, cube, cylinder, boom, like space Lego.
APPLICATIONS Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015
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[Composite manhole covers can be lifted by hand[UK manufacturer Structural Science Com-
posites Ltd (SSC) has developed a range of
glass fiber reinforced manhole and drain
covers that are so lightweight that even
the largest can be lifted by hand.
The EN-approved SSC composite man-
hole and drain covers use Scott Bader’sCrestapol acrylic resin transfer moulding
(RTM) resin in a patented Thrubeam design
which produces a stiffer beam in combina-
tion with the reinforcement.
The covers which are typically three to
four times lighter than an equivalent steel
or reinforced concrete cover but have load
bearing capabilities to meet BS EN124:1994
Standards Group 4 Class D400. This stan-
dard specifies that an access cover must be
able to cope with static loading from cars,
vans, lorries and HGVs if installed in areas
such as carriageways, hard shoulders, fac-tory sites and industrial estates; to pass BS
EN124 Class D400 an access cover or grat-
ing must withstand a 40 tonne test load.
Non-corrosive covers[The RTM process helps give the covers im-
proved strength-to-weight ratio, surface
details and anti-slip finish. SSC covers
are also inherently non-corrosive, non
conductive, and avoid problems relating
to theft for their scrap value, which is a rea
issue with metal covers.
‘After extensive new product develop
ment trials and testing different UPR and
epoxy resin systems, we were very pleasedthat Scott Bader was able to develop a spe-
cial grade of its Crestapol high performance
acrylic resin for SSC that met all our needs,
said Andrew Burton, general manager o
SSC. ‘The custom Crestapol grade we now
use firstly provides a level of physical prop
erties to match our Thrubeam technology
and meet BS EN124 test standards. Second-
ly, the resin’s rheology and very fast cure
rate at moderately elevated temperatures
enables us to manufacture our composite
covers consistently, and with a high level o
confidence that parts will meet our qualitystandards.’
Scott Bader[
; www.scottbader.com
[
[Toray FRP used in Toyota’s new fuel cell vehicleToray Industries’ carbon fiber material
will be used for a range of parts in Toyota
Motor Corporation’s MIRAI fuel cell
vehicle.
In particular, carbon fiber reinforced
thermoplastics (CFRTP) will be used in
a stack frame part, equivalent to the vehi-
cle floor. To make the part, Toray and
Toyota, developed a material which
can achieve a short press molding time
suitable for mass production, by develop-
ing the characteristics of thermoplastic.
Toray says that is the first time in the
world that CFRTP will be used for the
structural part of a (mass) production
vehicle.
Toray also supplied carbon paper for the
electrode substrate of fuel cell stack and a
high strength carbon fiber for the high
pressure hydrogen tank.
Toray Industries; www.toray.com
[
[Autoclave developed for F1 partsSupport service company AIC Group has
recently completed the design and instal-
lation of a new autoclave for a leading
Formula 1 team in the UK.
The autoclave is designed to operate at
temperatures of up to 4008C, while nor-
mal composites processing autoclave
operate at 200–3008C. The autoclave
also reaches pressures of up to 7 bar
which it can achieves in 95 minutes
It is electrically heated and has an interna
working size of 1.5 m and is 2 m in
length.
The autoclave is being used to cure com-
posite parts on F1 racing cars.
AIC Group; www.aicservice.com
[
A SSC Thrubeam Crestapol GRP composite
pedestrian manhole cover in London’s Parliament
Square.
Toray Industries’ carbon fiber material will be
used for a range of parts in Toyota Motor
Corporation’s MIRAI fuel cell vehicle.
The autoclave is being used to cure composite
parts on F1 racing cars.
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[TenCate provides parts for space capsuleTENCATE ADVANCED COMPOSITES has
provided heat resistant composites for the
heat shield and backshell structure of the
Lockheed Martin Orion multi-purpose crew
vehicle, which was successfully launched
this week.
TenCate’s materials replace the tradition-al titanium solution for re-entry and splash-
down requirements, while saving weight
and cost. The composite heat shield design
allows very large composite structures to
be fabricated out of autoclave.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Orion
thermal protection group worked with Ten-
Cate Advanced Composites to develop a
special heat resistant composite resin for
the 16.5 ft (5 m) diameter heat shield and
the crew vehicle backshell structure of the
Orion space capsule.
Great honour‘This week’s flight represents the culmina-
tion of a five year development and qualifi-
cation effort for a suite of materials used in
this extreme application. Further, as a result
of the heat shield’s large size and thickness,
the advanced composites used had to
achieve high consolidation using only a
low pressure vacuum bag only process,’ said
Steve Mead, vice president of marketing &
sales at TenCate Advanced Composites.‘TenCate is honoured to be one of Lock-
heed’s partners on this important space
program.’
TenCate Advanced Composites; www.tencate.
com
[
Launch of 22 m composite workboat[UK-based CTruk, which designs and builds
composite marine craft, has launched the
CWind Sword, a 22 m multi-role composite
workboat built for offshore wind farm sup-
port.
CWind Sword will start work on a CWind
contract for electrics company EnBW on
the Baltic 2 wind farm offshore in the Ger-
man Baltic Sea in December.
TheCTruk MPC22 is a 22 m multi-purpose
catamaranwith7.5 mbeamand1.25 mdraft
constructed from fiber-reinforced plastic
(FRP) composite for weight-saving strength.
It has a 20 tonne flexible payload capa-
bility and the ability to carry 24,000 litres of
fuel and is designed to deal with rougher
seas and longer transits.
New features[Newfeatures on thevesselincludea protected
controllable pitch propeller (CPP) system
which can give improved bollard pull and
service speeds. CTruk’s patented moveable
wheelhouse and modular deck pod system
will enable the vessel to fulfil multiple roles.
CTruk; [
www.ctruk.com
[
[
World’s first all carbon fiber drone[Trident Design has developed the Carbon
Flyer, reportedly the world’s first all carbon
fiber personal drone which is controlled by
Bluetooth and features an onboard video
camera.
The airframe has been assembled using
carbon nanotube enhanced epoxy which
creates bonds stronger than steel welds,
the company says.
TheCarbon Flyer features a low-dragdelta-
wing design, dual high power motors with
differential thrust to steer and no fragile
moving parts. It is controlled via long range
Bluetooth 4.0 and a smartphone app.
The creators have made an Indiegogo
page to finance the development of the
drone.
Trident Design; [www.trident-design.com
[
[
Maine composites center tests biggest ever structureTHE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE’S Advanced
Structures and Composites Center has com-
pleted static strength testing of a 56 m
(184 foot) wind turbine blade made by
Gamesa.
The Gamesa blade was the largest tested
to date in the UMaine Offshore Wind Lab-
oratory. During the testing, the blade was
subjected to loads in four directions to
prove the structure met international
strength standards.
‘Weare honored to have servedone of the
world’s leading wind turbine manufac-
turers,’’ said Habib Dagher, director of the
UMaine Composites Center. ‘‘This is the
biggest structure we have tested to date,
extending nearly 80% of the length of our
blade test lab.’
Safe testingThe University of Maine’s facility, which
opened in 2011, can provide testing and
material characterization services for each
stage of blade development.
‘Our engineers, technicians and stu-
dents did a great job designing, building
and operating the equipment needed to
safely rotate and test the 56 m blade,’ said
John Arimond, the business development
executive with the UMaine Composites
Center.
University of Maine; www.maine.edu
The CTruk MPC22 is a 22 m multi-purpose
catamaran with 7.5 m beam and 1.25 m draft
constructed from fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP)
composite for weight-saving strength.
[The drone airframe has been assembled using
carbon nanotube enhanced epoxy which creates
bonds stronger than steel welds.
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[Lightweight hockey stick weighs just 183 gramsSport equipment manufacturer Unihoc
has developed what it says is the world’s
lightest floorball stick, weighing just
183 grams.
Floorball is an indoor type of floor hockey
which was developed in the 1970s in
Sweden.The stick is reinforced with TeXtreme
Spread Tow carbon fabrics, which are
also used in Formula 1 racing, Americas
Cup, advanced aerospace, bicycles and
the NHL.
‘‘As the pioneer brand in floorball Unihoc
has always been aiming to bring the develop
ment of the sport and the equipment to new
levels,’’ said Johan Österman, R&D Manager
at Renew Group Sweden AB, which owns
Unihoc. ‘‘Together with TeXtreme we have
now beenable to takea huge stepin the fieldof low weight sticks, and at the same time
offer the best performance qualities on the
market’’.
The retail launch of the new Unihoc stick
is set for June 2015.
TeXtreme; www.textreme.com
Floorball is an indoor type of floor hockey which
was developed in the 1970s in Sweden.
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Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015 BUSINESS
Business[AIC forms new partnership with the AMRCAIC Group announces a new partnership
with the Advanced Manufacturing Research
Centre (AMRC) based in Sheffield, UK.AIC will install its latest Autoclave Man-
agement and Control Systems (AMCS)
into the AMRC and will provide planned
preventative maintenance and calibration
services.
TheAMRC runs two autoclaves, the larger
of which is 3 m in diameter and 5 m in
length. The smaller autoclave measures1 m 2 m in size. These are used for exten-
sive compositeprojectswith their partners in
the composite industry. AIC currently ser-
vice and maintain a significant number of
AMRC partners’ composite autoclaves.
‘We are excited to have this new system
in place to help increase the efficiency of
our autoclaves. We know AIC delivers qual-ity and we are glad to have their support
and expertise,’ said Conrad Sdao at the
AMRC.
AIC Group; www.aicservice.com
[
[
Dassault Systèmes part of new US composite center3D design software specialist Dassault
Systèmes has become a charter member
of the Institute for Advanced Composites
Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), the122-member consortium awarded a US
$70 million grant by the U.S. Department
of Energy (DOE).
The new institute will focus on advanced
fiber-reinforced polymer composites that
combine strong fibers with tough plastics
to yield materials that are lighter and
stronger than steel.
More efficient products‘‘Dassault Systèmes is proud to be a chartermember of IACMI and will have the
honor to work alongside partners in the
non-profit sector, universities, national
laboratories and private industry, as
well as the Department of Energy’s
Advanced Manufacturing Office to enable
innovation and competitiveness in the
U.S. manufacturing sector and drive
the development of more efficient pro-ducts,’’ said Bruno Latchague, senior
executive vice president, Americas market
and global sales operations, Dassault
Systèmes.
Dassault Systèmes; www.3ds.com
[
[Gurit wins bid for carbon fiber body panelsSwiss automotive composite specialist
Gurit has been selected as the supplier
for carbon fiber based automotive body
panels at a total contract value of more
than CHF30 million calculated on a multi-
annual basis.
Starting in the fourth quarter of 2015,
the new project will involve the industrial
production of exterior Class-A carbon
body panel parts using Gurit’s existing
open mold manual and its new press
technology.
Manufacturing car body panels from
composite materials provide car manufac-
turers with greater design flexibility when
compared with metal panel technology.
Benefits also result from the combination
of material functionality and robust
processing along with significant weight
savings.
Reducing curing timeGurit’s hot compression molding produc-
tion technology can significantly reduce
curing time thus enabling more efficient
industrial production of small-scale series.
The new technology also offers improved
parts accuracy, a high-quality carbon look
capability and improved surface quality.
‘This project win represents an important
milestone in the strategic advancement of
our automotive exterior body panel busi-
ness,’ said CEO Rudolf Hadorn. ‘We have
been working hard to prove superiority of
our advanced press technology.’
Gurit; www.gurit.com
[
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[
3A Composites expands foam production3A COMPOSITES HAS increased produc-
tion capacities of its AIREX PET core mate-
rials.
This follows increased customer demand,
new product launches, and penetration in-
to new markets, the company said.
3A Composites’ new product, AIREX
GEN2 is expected to further accelerate
growth, as it specifically targets high vol-
ume applications.
‘We observe an ongoing substitution
of other core materials with PET foams.
Moreover, the introduction of GEN2 is
bound to accelerate this process and so it
was a logical step to scale up our capacities,
said Roman Thomassin, CEO of 3A Compo
sites Core Materials.
3A Composites; www.3acomposites.com
[
[Carbon fiber: Asia Pacific ‘most promising’A newreport suggests that Asia-Pacificis the
most promising carbon fiber market, with
demand in the region to grow at a CAGR of
around 14% from 2014 to 2019.
Asia-Pacific manufactured almost 40% of
the total global demand in 2013. It is esti-
mated that Japan, and China were the big-
gest manufacturers of carbon fiber in this
region, followed by Taiwan and South
Korea in2013.In order tomeetthegrowing
demand from end-users in Europe, the
leading manufacturers from the Asia-pacific
region are rapidly continuing to increase
their production capacities in Asia, mainly
in China.
Growing marketWhile North America still holds the top
share of 36.83% in the global carbon fiber
reinforced plastic market due to increased
demand from the aerospace and defense
industries, Europe is thefastest growingmar-
ket due to the increasing use of CFRP inautomotive and wind energy. The region is
projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4%, from
2014 to 2019, with growing oil prices boost-
ing the need for fuel efficient vehicles and
aircrafts. Although the development of elec-
tricand hybrid vehicles will raise theusageof
CFRP composites in the automotive indus-
try, thewind power market, offshore drilling
and [deeper oil and gas exploration will in-
crease thepenetration of CFRPin the energy
industry.
The new research report, ‘‘Carbon Fiber
Market & Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic
(CFRP) by Type, Fiber size, & Region’’, is
available from MarketsandMarkets.
MarketsandMarkets;
www.marketsandmarkets.com[
[
ATS acquires Texas Air CompositesAviation Technical Services (ATS) has ac-
quired Texas Air Composites (TAC), a Do-
mestic 145 Repair Station specializing in
composite structural fabrication, support
and repair for regional, commercial and
military aircraft.
Located in Fort Worth, Texas, TAC has a
team of over 100 employees and has over
138,000 ft2 of facilities.
According to ATS, TAC fits into its strat-
egy to grow and diversify its customer
base, capabilities and geographic reach.
While ATS principally serves commercia
airlines and OEMs, TAC adds a focus on
regional airline and military customers
TAC also specializes in advanced compos
ite repair on Airbus, Bombardier and
Embraer fleets, while ATS provides a range
Asia-Pacific is the most promising carbon fiber market, with demand in the region to grow at a CAGR
of around 14% from 2014 to 2019.
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of component, engineering and airframe
services on primarily Boeing product
lines. The Dallas Fort Worth is in close
proximity to ATS’ new heavy airframe
maintenance facility in Kansas City, Mis-
souri.
Repair expertise‘Texas Air Composites is an impressive ad-
dition to the ATS team. Their expertise in
composite repair on a wide range of aircraft
models pairs well with our proficiency in
component, engineering and airframe ser-
vices,’ said Matt Yerbic, ATS president and
CEO.
The TAC leadership team is staying in
place and will continue to run the business
as a subsidiary of ATS.
Aviation Technical Services; www.atsmro.com
[
[
China–Russia alliance invests in carbon fiberRussia-based Composite Holding Company
and state-owned China Hi-Tech Group
Corp (CHTC) have formed a strategic alli-
ance to develop polymer composite materi-
als for different sectors of industry in Russia
and China.
Both parties will reportedly invest over
US$500 until 2025.
The plan is to create a vertically integrat-
ed company to produce carbon fiber based
polymer composite materials, including
raw materials, semi-products and finished
goods. The first step is to establish a joint
venture aimed at composite materials pro-
duction and trading, including technical
fabrics and prepregs. This joint venture will
be established in Shenyang, Liaoning,
China, before the end of 2014.
Further steps will be made in 2015–2016
and include the joint development of
carbon fiber reinforced plastics-based fin-
ished goods, as well as raw materials such
as PAN-precursor and PAN based carbon
fiber. The companies will also invest in
facilities and equipment to produce these
products. They suggest that over 1000 jobs
will be created in Russia and China.
New developments‘The strategic alliance of two companies
will stimulate new developments of com-
posite materials to raise demand in China
and Russia and win a significant share of
that business in PRC and Russia in future,’
said Leonid Melamed, general director of
Composite Holding Company.
‘As expected, we will develop composite
business jointly and will win up to
20% of future market of carbon fiber
based composite materials in China
(at least 7000 tons of forecasted 35,000
by 2020–2025),’ said Zhang Jie, board of
directors chairman of China Hi-Tech
Group Corp.
The Chinese carbon fiber and composite
materials market is reportedly the largest in
the world, at 20%. The world market covers
50,000 tonsof carbon fiber based composite
materials while the Chinese market con-
sumes over 10,000 tons of carbon fiber
based polymer composite every year. It
has been predicted that the level of con-
sumption of composite materials in China
will grow up to 35,000 tons per annum by
2020–2025.
Com po si te H o ldin g Com pa ny ; w ww .
hccomposite.com/en
ChinaHi-Tech Group Corp (CHTC); www.chtgc.
com/n150
[
[FRIMO and CMTT announce mixing head joint venture
FRIMO, a developer of mixing head systemsfor reinforced plastics, has announced a
joint venture with Covelo Machine & Tool
Trade Co Inc (CMTT).
CMTT constructs and produces high-
pressure mixing heads and is also a
specialist in materials selection process,material matching, production methods
and surface treatments. With the joint
venture with FRIMO, CMTT’s service
and repair scope will expand from Europe
to also encompass North America and
Asia, where FRIMO currently manufac-tures its technologies.
FRIMO; www.frimo.com
Covelo Machine & Tool Trade Co Inc; www.
cmtt.com
[
[GlassFibreEurope welcomes new EU measures against ChinaGlassFibreEurope, a trade organisation that
aims to represent the interests of European
glass fiber manufacturers, says that it wel-
comesnew EUtrade measures thathavebeentaken against Chinese glass fiber exporters.
The European Commission initiated an
interim review of the existing anti-dumping
measures on glass fiber imports from China
on 18 December 2013, and a new anti-sub-
sidy proceeding on 12 December 2013.
According to GlassFibreEurope, it estab-
lished that Chinese manufacturers dump
glass fiber at predatory prices to seize EU
market share, and receive illegal subsidies
from the Chinese government. The Europe-
an Commission notified parties of its intent
to impose new anti-dumping and anti-sub-sidy measures in early October 2014. The
final proposal to impose total duties which
aregenerally up to 25–30% on imports from
Chinese producers was supported by EU
Member States on 26 November 2014.
Strategic sector‘We welcome the decision by EU
Member States to support the European
Commission’s proposal to impose trade
defence measures against Chinese glass fi-
ber manufacturers,’ commented Mauro
Malanchini, president of GlassFibreEurope.‘Unfair competition from China has caused
considerable injury to European industry,
with the loss of European factories and jobs
in an important strategic sector. We hope
the new measures will restore healthy com-
petition in the EU glass fiber market for the
benefit of producers and downstream users
alike.’
GlassFibreEurope; www.glassfibereurope.eu
[
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[
Hexcel acquires interest in multi-axial fabric manufacturerHexcel Corporation has acquired 50% of
Formax UK Limited, a manufacturer of
composite reinforcements which specia-
lizes in the production of lightweight
multi-axial fabrics.
Formax is located in Leicester, UK with
estimated sales in 2014 of approximatelyUS$45 million.
With the acquisition, Hexcel plans to
develop knitting technology for future
aerospace applications and provide scale
for its growing industrial markets.
This announcement follows a Joint Devel-
opment Agreement under which the two
companies jointly develop non-crimp fabrics
(NCF)for Hexcel andits aerospacecustomers.
Growth commitment‘This partnership demonstrates our commit-
ment to growing our business, expanding
our technologiesand strengtheningHexcel’s
position as a global leader in advanced com
posites,’ said Hexcel’s chairman, CEO and
president, Nick Stanage.
‘We believe this will open up new oppor
tunities for us to develop our range of stitch
bonded reinforcements to the benefit of alof our customers,’ said Formax’s MD, Olive
Wessely.
Hexcel Corporation; www.hexcel.com
[
[Prepreg-ACM certified for marine applications JSC Prepreg-ACM, part of Holding Compa-
ny Composite, has had its basic carbon
and hybrid (with glass fibre) multiaxial
fabrics approved for use in marine appli-
cations.
The certification was awarded by DNV
GL Group, which provides services in the
fields of certification, verification, inde-
pendent evaluation and training of per-
sonnel.
This international certification will help
Prepreg-ACM improve its opportunities and
market its products in the domestic and
international markets, the company says.
Wind energy‘Continued certification of our glass and
carbon fabrics will make it possible to use
them in other fields, including the develop-
ment of wind energy in Russia, producing
composite blades for wind generators,’ said
Igor Laskorunsky, sales manager for mari
time at Prepreg-ACM.
In mid 2014 Prepreg-ACM also received a
certificate from the Russian Maritime Reg
ister of Shipping as well as Type Approva
Certificate for technical fabrics used in the
marine industry.
Holding Company Composite;
www.hccomposite.com
[
[Kaman sells Mexican unitKaman Corporation has sold its Mexican
distribution subsidiary Delamac de Mexico
to a power transmission engineering firm,
Rodamientos y Accesorios (RYASA).
The terms of the transaction were not
disclosed.‘We did not have sufficient scale in
Mexico to achieve our long-term targeted
profitability goals and believe the operation
will be better aligned with RYASA,’ said
Kaman executive vice president and distri-
bution segment president Steven J. Smidler.
‘We are grateful to the employees of Dela-
mac for their commitment and service to
Kaman and believe the new ownership willbe beneficial for all parties.’
Kaman expects to record pre-tax charges
in the fourth quarter 2014 related to the
transaction of approximately US$4.5 mil
lion to US$5.5 million. Delamac was part of
the distribution segment of Kaman and
accounted for less than 2.5% of segmen
revenues. Delamac distributes bearings
power transmission products, lubricationsystems, and related parts and accessories
from 12 branch locations in Mexico.
Kaman Corporation; www.kaman.com
[
[
TenCate to supply prepreg for all-composite aircraftTenCate Advanced Composites North
America has signed a long term composite
materials supply agreement with US-based
Kestrel Aircraft.
The new, all-composite turboprop
Kestrel K-350 will use TenCate’s TC275-1epoxy prepreg system, which has im-
proved hot/wet strength retention and
can cure at either 2758F or 3508F. The
prepreg can be processed with a free-
standing post cure for higher temperature
performance.
The Kestrel K-350 represents an all-
composite single-engine, turboprop aircraft
that can carry up to eight people at high
speed over long distances. ‘TenCate is
pleased to be the composite supplier to The new, all-composite turboprop Kestrel K-350.
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Kestrel Aircraft,’ said Joe Morris, president
of TenCate Advanced Composites North
America. ‘This long term supply agreement
represents the continuation of a long term
successful relationship we have had with
the Kestrel management team.’
TenCate Advanced Composites North
America; www.tencate.com
[
[£61 million UK government boost welcomed by NCCThe UK’s National Composites Centre
(NNC) has welcomed an investment bythe UK government in the High Value
Manufacturing Catapult, a group of seven
technology and innovation centres focusing
on the commercialisationof UK manufactur-
ing research.
Historically, the UK has always been
strong at early stage research, but has
often seen the commercial benefit of its
inventions and innovations go overseas.
The High Value Manufacturing Catapult
is intended to bridge the gap between
business, academia, research and govern-
ment.‘This is excellent news and particularly
timely for the NCC,’ said Peter Chivers,
CEO. ‘Just a month ago the NCC formally
opened a BIS funded £28 million extension
to increase our capacity to support the UK
Composites Industry. Since its start-up three
years ago, NCC activity in accelerating inno-
vationfor UK business hasgrownrapidlydue
to extremely strong industrial demand, sup-
portedby newcapabilityinvestments funded
by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.
Increase integration
‘The extended NCC facilities provide newcapacity to address the needs of high rate
composite manufacturing for the automo-
tive industry and others, better meet
the needs of SMEs, increase integration
with universities and start delivering
training courses. The additional Catapult
funds will be used to invest in the new
equipment and capabilities to further ac-
celerate the NCC’s offering in all these
areas.’
National Composites Centre; www.nccuk.com
[
[Samsung invests in recyclable compositesSamsung Venture Investment Corporation
has invested in Connora Technologies to
help it commercialize its Recyclamine recy-
clable epoxy thermoset technology.
Along with the recent investment, two
new members have join Connora’s advisory
board: Andre Genton, former president of
Huntsman Advanced Materials, and Bren-
dan Iribe, an entrepreneur known recently
for the acquisition of Oculus by Facebook.
Connora’s Recyclamine technology is agreen chemistry platform that provides a
method of making and recycling composite
waste materials and products. Efficiently
recycling composite materials should have
a positive impact in the automotive and
aerospace industries, where the trend to
make lighter, stronger, and more energy
efficient vehicles is driving growth in the
use of carbon fiber composite materials. In
these and other applications, carbon fiber
parts are often made in high volumes, with
sometimes 20–40% of the raw materials
going to waste. Since traditional thermoset
plastics are not optimized for recyclability,
current composite waste is intractable andoften disposed of in landfill or by burning.
‘Reclaiming the expensive carbon fiber
[from manufacturing waste] in a near virgin
state, and enabling OEMs to put it back into
their products will help lower their costs
over time,’ said Dr Rey Banatao, Connora’s
CEO.
Connora is currently in discussions with
several auto andaerospace OEMs to develop
a specific Recyclamine Epoxy Resin system
for use in high-pressure resin transfer mold-
ing processes (HP-RTM), suitable to the
high-volume manufacturing methods be-
ing adopted by auto and aerospace manu-
facturers today. Epoxy resins are currentlythe predominant thermoset plastic used in
performance carbon fiber composites.
Connora Technologies; www.connoratech.
com
[
[Shell invests in composite pipesNetherlands-based Airborne Oil & Gas BV
says that it has added Shell Technology
Ventures BV as a company investor and
shareholder.
The company is one of the world’s largestmanufacturers of fullybonded thermoplastic
compositepipesystems foroffshoreoil & gas.
‘Shell Technology Ventures is a most wel-
come addition to our shareholder base, at
this phase of our development,’ said Eric
van der Meer, CEO of Airborne Oil & Gas.
‘Airborne Oil & Gas is qualified to supply
hydrocarbon containing offshore flowlines
to Shell worldwide. Shell can accelerate the
implementation of our products across itslarge footprint in the industry.’
Unique technology‘Airborne Oil & Gas possesses a unique tech-
nology, with potentially game changing
impact on the offshore industry,’ said Geert
vande Wouw, MD of Shell TechnologyVen-
tures. ‘The ultra-lightweight, corrosion free
pipesystems cansignificantlylowerthe costs
of a number of applications and enable newapplications.’
Airborne Oil & Gas BV; www.
airborne-oilandgas.com
[
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[
[
Southern Spars to acquire Future FibresSouthern Spars, part of the North Technol-
ogy Group (NTG) and a specialist in carbon
fiber spars and rigging, has acquired Future
Fibres, based in Valencia, Spain.
Future Fibres makes carbon cables,
masts, booms, spreaders and custom com-
ponents.[‘Future Fibres has long been an innovator
in the field of advanced fiber rigging [,’ said
Tom Whidden, CEO of North Technology
Group. [‘With NTG’s support, Southern
Spars now has the resources to provide
our customers with a wider range of ad-
vanced rigging options[.’
Future Fibres first entered the composite
rigging marketafter itsfounder Tom Hutch-
inson devised a better way to terminate
composite fibers by continuously winding
PBO (Zylon) fiber around two titaniumthimbles at any required length. Future
Fibres’ approach has allowed composite rig-
gingto beused oneveryareaof the boatand
not restricted to just aft rigging as it histori-
cally was before.
Depressed market[‘The team at SouthernSpars is excited abou
the acquisition of Future Fibres[,’ said
Richard Lott, CEO of Southern Spars. [‘The
mast and rigging market is quite depressed
after the GFC which has been putting pres
sure on Southern Spars and Future Fibresbusiness. However, the Future Fibres team
has developed some advanced mast mould
ing technologies which complement ou
advanced computer-based rig design tools.
Southern Spars; www.southernspars.com
[
[TenCate completes move to textiles with final saleRoyal Ten Cate (TenCate) has agreed for
Platinum Equity, a US-based private
equity investor, to buy TenCate Enbi, a
supplier of components and materials to
leading companies (original equipment
manufacturers) primarily in the printer
and copier markets.
The transaction is expected to close in
the first half of 2015. The sale completes
TenCate’s strategy to become a materials
technology company focusing on technica
textiles.
[
Royal Ten Cate; www.tencate.com
[
[Toray marks place in European prepregToray Industries has moved into the Euro-
pean market with its acquisition of Saati
SpA’s European carbon fiber fabric and pre-
preg business.
Toray plans to take over the assets of
Saati’s plant in January 2015 and start
operation as Composite Materials Italy
Srl (CTI), a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Toray. Saati’s American compositebusiness will still belong to the Saati
Group.
Saati’s carbon fiber fabric and prepreg
business has been expanding rapidly in
recent years as a customer of Toray Group’s
carbon fiber-related companies, while
Toray is already engaged in carbon fiber
polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor at its
French subsidiary, Toray Carbon Fibers Eur-
ope SA (CFE). It also runs a CFRP parts
business that uses carbon fiber fabric at itsGerman subsidiaries of Euro Advanced Car-
bon Fiber Composites GmbH (EACC) and
ACE Advanced Composite Engineering
GmbH (ACE).
Global focusThe company says that this acquisition
strengthens its carbon fiber composite mate-
rialsbusinessin Europe. Going forward, Toray
Group will transfer its technology to CIT
while aiming to expand the business beyondEurope to acquire a more global focus.
Toray Industries; [www.toray.com
[
[TPI to supply wind blades to VestasTPI Composites has signed a multiyear sup-
ply agreementwith Vestas Wind Systems A/
S to provide blades for the V110 wind tur-
bine from TPI’s factory in Dafeng, China.
Vestas launched its V110-2.0MW wind
turbine in the China market in October
2014.
‘We are thrilled that Vestas has selected
TPI to be its first outsource partner of Vestas
designed blades,’ said Steve Lockard, presi-
dent and CEO of TPI Composites. ‘From
Dafeng, China we will supply V110 blades
to China and export markets in a reliable
and cost-effective manner.’
TPI has been building wind blade
to international quality standards in
China since 2008. The company’s Dafeng
plant measures 35,000 m2 and is located
250 km north of Shanghai in Jiangsu
Province.
TPI Composites; www.tpicomposites.com[
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[
Wind turbine rotor blade market to reach almost US$17 millionThe global glass and carbon fiber wind tur-
bine blade market was valued at US$9998.9
million in 2013 and is projected to reach a
value of US$16,982 million by 2019.
This represents a CAGR of 9.2% for fore-
cast period from an estimated value of
US$10,914.3 million in 2014, says a newreport.
The report, ‘‘Wind Turbine Rotor Blade
Market by Material (Glass Fiber, Carbon
Fiber), by Blade Size’’, published by Market-
sandMarkets, defines and segments the
wind turbine rotor blade market with anal-
ysis and forecasting of volume as well as
value. It also identifies the driving forces
and restraining factors for the market,
highlighting the latest trends and identify-
ing opportunities.
New projectThe wind turbine rotor blade market is driv-
en by policysupport from governments and
decreasing costs of wind power generation.
Governments across the world have been
pushing to include more renewable power
to their energy mix, an approach that is
driving many new wind power projects,
generating demand for wind turbine rotor
blades, the report suggests. The declining
cost per kWh of generating power from
wind is makingit themost attractive renew-
able energy option. However, high capital
costs for such projects may act as a restraint
for the market, along with the use of expen-
sive raw material required for manufactur-
ing larger blades. Future growth projections
for the wind energy sector are very promis-
ing, indicating opportunities for in the ro-
tor blade market, but the market is required
to handle critical challenges such as diffi-
culty in transportation to fully capitalize on
potential opportunities.
In 2013, Asia-Pacific was the largest
market for wind turbine rotor blades
and accounted for a market share of
54.13%. The use of carbon fiber in blade
manufacturing is growing at a fast pace as
blade sizes are increasing in size.
MarketsandMarkets;
www.marketsandmarkets.com
[
[
Wood-plastic composite market to reach [
1728.9 kilotonsThe wood-plastic composite market is pro-
jected to grow from [1046.1 kilotons to
1728.9 kilotons between 2014 and 2019,
with a CAGR of 10.5%.
Wood-plastic composite plays an impor-
tant role in the building and construction
industry in producing products such as
landscape timbers, railing, decking, fence,
window and door elements, panels, mold-ing, roofing, and siding, thereport suggests.
Increasing demand for wood-plastic com-
posites in the manufacture of building and
construction products is estimated to boost
the overall wood-plastic composites market
over the next few years. Additionally, the
rising demand for wood-plastic composites
to manufacture several interior compo-
nents of automobiles is projected to fuel
market growth.
Rapid paceNorth America and Asia are the top-two
consumers of wood-plastic composite in
the world. US and China are key countries
in North American and Asian regions, re-
spectively and these countries are growing
with CAGRs of 10.1% and 14.7% between
2014 and 2019. China, India, and Brazil are
also growing at a rapid pace because of the
rising domestic demand.
The report, Wood-Plastic Composite Mar-
ket by Type, Applications [and Region [–
Trends & Forecasts [
(2014–2019) is availablefrom Research and Markets.
Research and Markets; www.
researchandmarkets.com
[
The wind turbine rotor blade market is driven by policy support from governments and decreasing
costs of wind power generation.
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[
Inauguration of new Safran/Albany plantIndustrial partners Safran and Albany have
inaugurated their new composite part
production plant in Commercy, Eastern
France.
Opened in May 2014, the plant makes
parts for new-generation aircraft engines
using composite material technology. Thefirst application of this new technology
will be the production of fan blades
and cases for CFM International’s LEAP
aircraft engine, which will power the next
generation of single-aisle commercial
jets, including the Airbus A320neo and
the Boeing 737 MAX. The 3D woven com-
posite parts made by Safran and Albany
are very strong and light, which will help
reduce the LEAP’s fuel consumption by
15% compared with current CFM engines,
the companies say.
The joint production plant has recruitedmore than 90 employees, and by 2018,
it will have 400 employees on a 10 ha
(25 acre) site, including 27,000 m2
(291,600 ft2) of floorspace.
Industrial scale‘This plant, the concrete symbol of the
partnership between Safran and Albany, is
the first of its type in the aerospace indus-
try,’ said Joseph G. Morone, president and
CEO of Albany International Corp. ‘The
manufacturing technology that is being ap-
plied here on an industrial scale, and the
products designed with this technology,
are truly innovative. And this specific
capability is the exclusive property of
Safran and Albany. So today is more
than just the inauguration of a modern
new plant. It marks the deployment of
a unique technology that will have a con-
siderable impact on the market for many
years to come.’
The two partners also inaugurated a twin
plant in Rochester, New Hampshire in
the United States, which will produce the
same 3D woven composite parts for the
LEAP engine. Safran and Albany have
invested a total of US$200 million in
these plants.
Safran Group; www.safran-group.com
Albany International; www.albint.com
[
[
ATL Composites celebrates 35 yearsATL Composites says that 2015 marks its
35th anniversary as a producer of epoxy
resins and supplier of structural materials
to the Australian and Asian composites in-
dustries.
Initially established in New Zealand in
1977 to manufacture WEST SYSTEM epoxy
products for the Asia Pacific region, ATL
Composites expanded by opening a second
facility in Sydney in 1980 to service the
Australian professional and amateur
boatbuilding market.
Recently the company has provided com-
posite materials and engineering services
for the manufacture of commercial ferries,
road and rail transportation, industrial and
architectural applications, resulting in im-
proved performance and reduced produc
tion time, while specifically formulated
liquid and filled epoxy systems are now
supplied into the specialised fields of indus
trial tooling, electrical encapsulation, min
ing and automotive applications.
ATL Composites[
; www.atlcomposites.com.au
[
[DSM to sell resin distributorRoyal DSM, the global life and materials
sciences company, has reached an agree-
ment with Cathay Investments for the sale
of Euroresins.
The transaction is expected to close in Q1
2015.
Euroresins is a distributorof productsto the
composite resins industry with activities in
ninecountriesin Europe,including the Unit-
ed Kingdom, Italy and France. It realizes sales
of approximatelys90 millionwitharound 70
employees. All employees will on the closing
date transfer to the new owner.
New strategy[The sale of Euroresins is in line with the
strategic actions DSM is pursuing for com-
posite resins.
Cathay Investments is a UK holding
company for a group of companies en
gaged in chemical distribution and
trading.
Royal DSM; [www.dsm.com
The 3D woven composite parts made by Safran and Albany could help reduce the LEAP’s fuel
consumption by 15% compared with current CFM engines.
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[Obama announces new US$250 million composites institutePresident Obama has announced the
new Institute for Advanced Composites
Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), a
Knoxville, Tennessee-based center focused
on developing next-generation composite
materials.
This follows on from the success of 3D printing manufacturing institute Amer-
ica Makes, which was launched in 2013.
The institute is supported by a consor-
tium of 122 companies, including Dow, GE
and Toray, nonprofits, universities and re-
search laboratories such as Oak Ridge and
the University of Kentucky and the U.S.
Department of Energy.
It will focus on cutting-edge research on
advanced composites, such as carbon fiber,
with a focus on advanced fiber-reinforced
polymer composites, which combine
strong fibers with tough plastics and arelighter and stronger than steel.
The materials can then be used for a
broader range of products including light-
weight vehicles with record-breaking fuel
economy; lighter and longer wind turbine
blades; high pressure tanks for natural gas-
fueledcars; and lighter,more efficient indus-
trial equipment, according to the Depart-
ment of Energy.
Clean energyAdvanced composites are especially impor-
tant for progressing clean energy genera-
tion and improving the efficiency of the
nation’s fleet.
In automotive applications, advanced
composites could reduce the weight of a
passenger car by 50% and improve its
fuel efficiency by roughly 35% without
compromising performance or safety.The aim is for the Institute for
Advanced Composites Manufacturing Inno-
vation (IACMI) to work to develop lower-
cost, higher-speed, and more efficient
manufacturing and recycling processes for
advanced composites. It will also focus on
lowering the overall manufacturing costs of
advanced composites by 50%, reducing the
energy used to make composites by 75%
and increasing the recyclability of compo-
sites to over 95% within the next decade.
Institute for Advanced Composites
Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI);http://manufacturing.gov/iacmi.html
[
President Obama has announced the new
Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing
Innovation.
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Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 2 March/April 2015 TECHNOLOGY
Technology[Composite design tools at JECAnaglyph has shown its range of compo-
sites design and analysis software tools at
the JEC Show, which took place in Paris,France in March.
LAP (Laminate Analysis Program) analy-
ses any type of composite laminate sub-
jected to in-plane loads and moments.
The software is used in preliminary design
for tailoring a stacking sequence and opti-
mising the design by inspecting the lami-
nate behaviour layer by layer.
CoDA (Component Design Analysis) deals
withpreliminary analysisof sub-components
with Plate, Beam, Joint, Flange or Laminate
geometries.
Laminate Tools addresses theentiregeometry, design, FEA pre/post-processing and
manufacture sequence of composites design
work. Laminate Tools interfaces with most
industry standards, both CAD and FEA.
Anaglyph has developed PLYMATCH vi
sual technology for hand lay-up composites
manufacturing and repair. PlyMatch is an
alternative, or a complement, to existing
ply-placement methods.
Anaglyph; www.anaglyph.co.uk
[
[DIAB introduces new structural coreDIAB will be presenting its new Divinycell
HM-range structural core at JEC Europe
2015 which takes place in Paris from 10
to 12 March 2015.
Divinycell HM is capable of absorbing
high dynamic impacts and slamming loads
and is suitable for demanding applications
such as fast marine hulls.
Visitors to JEC Europe will also be able to
see DIAB’s new structural PET-grades, suit-
able for land, transportation and construc-
tion applications.
DIAB will also be showing two new fin-
ishing options - GPL1 and GSC30/GRV2.
GPL1 features improved grooves and per-
forations to minimize resin consumption
and achieve additional weight savings,
while GSC30/GRV2 facilitates fast and reli-
able infusion, reducing