Features:
Closed
Molding in the Marine Industry
Invested with significant finances, the marine industry continues to
expend a huge effort in moving closed molding technology from R&D
to the manufacturing floor. What challenges are boatbuilders facing
and overcoming?
By Scott Lewit
|
|
Switched to Closed Molding Yet? A Primer for Boatbuilders
Here’s a guide to help those boatbuilders new to closed molding.
By Marcy Offner
Vacuum Infusion for the Marine Industry
How boatbuilders can meet the challenge of sandwich structures.
By Belle Gall
Take the Test! Boatbuilders in Lab Coats
How can laminate testing improve construction and manufacturing cost?
By Scott Lewit and Josh Henderson
Quality Control for Composite Boat Fabrication
Ten tips for implementing a successful QC system.
By Scott Lewit
Industry Outlook
Bridging the Gap Between FRP and Advanced Composites
Crossover for composites is healthy and could enhance the bottom line.
By A. Brent Strong and Scott W. Beckwith
Is Paper Waste and Microwave Processing the Future of Low-Cost Carbon
Fiber?
A number of precursor materials have been studied recently as alternative
feedstocks to produce carbon fiber. How have they fared?
By Chris Red
Super-Crete! Polymer Concrete Makes it Faster, More Powerful, and
Stronger
Expanding the role of regular concrete, the polymer variety has opened doors
for many new applications.
By Steve McNally
Nano Technology Harnessed to Advance Performance of Composites
Historically, material application requirements for thermal and electrical
conductivity or stringent sheer properties and damage tolerances have been
produced with non-composite materials. That is until the National Composites
Center and the University of Dayton Research Institute teamed up.
By Juan Borges
Fiber Reinforced Polymer for Use in Bridge Decks
University of Pittsburgh student Jonathan Moses won this year’s Gary
B. Multanen scholarship with his research on composites and bridge decks.
By Jonathan Moses
By Accident? When Composites Technology Followed the Serendipitous
Path to Discovery
The implication is that great discoveries in science and technology are made
by accident. Is this true in plastics and composites as well?
By Linda Clements
Industry Applications
Efficient Non-Atomized Application
The advent of non-atomized application has provided the open molding industry
a necessary tool for reducing emissions. However, there are challenges to
delivering a high efficiency flow stream to the mold surface.
By Bob Lacovara
Suck it Up! Are Silicone Bags Right for Your Closed Mold Operation?
Can silicone bags expedite the learning curve to closed molding?
By Brad Lienhart, Keith Charles, and Kyle Hearne
The Cutting Edge: State of the Art Methods for Cutting Reinforcements
What’s new in reinforcement cutting technology?
By Hank Yeagley
Composite Sheet Piling Restores New Hampshire Harbor and California
Wetlands
Two critical civil engineering projects in two different areas of the country
can now boast successful results from pultruded composite sheet piling.
By Joe Gondek
Triaxial Braiding, Resin Transfer and Vacuum Assisted Molding for
Large Composite Structures
This company profile of manufacturer Fiber Innovations breaks down several
processes for manufacturing large composite structures for the aerospace and
defense industries.
By Garrett Sharpless
Large Scale Preforming: Cost Effective Production
The National Composites Center’s preforming capability allows manufacturers
to handle large parts like small parts.
By Lou Luedtke
Impedance Sensing Technology for Conductive In-Mold Coating Application
Impedance technology uses the changing electrical properties of the thermoset
as it cures to determine the appropriate time to end the cure. Why is this
important?
By Steve Courington
Government Affairs
Your Government, Your Association: ACMA’s Advocacy Strategy
ACMA representatives diligently pursue recommendations to government agencies
on behalf of the composites industry, recommendations that are critical to
keeping the industry strong and vital.
By John Schweitzer
The Business Side of the Industry
Triathlon for Time Management? Can Being an Ironman Make You a Better
Composites Professional?
For CM Contributing Editor and Triathlete Chris Red, the long lonely
miles of training and competing lends itself to analogies drawn to the composites
industry.
How Composites Entrepreneurs can Nurture Innovation, Invent on Demand,
Incorporate Value Adds, Solve Critical Challenges, Get Ideas to Market, and
Leap Frog the Competition
Ideation’s TRIZ is a knowledge-based, problem-solving methodology that
offers the only operating system for innovation available today. How composites
entrepreneurs can get ahead.
By Zion Bar-El
Columns
ACMA Unifies Composites Industry Response to Katrina
Board-er Lines - ACMA and William Kreysler & Associates
President Bill Kreysler says its time for the association to get back to basics,
to strengthen core offerings and make ACMA the best it can be.