When the new Airbus A350 XWB (XWB stands for eXtra Wide Body) takes off on its maiden flight in two years time, this will also represent a milestone for the composites industry. 50% of the fuselage of the wide-bodied aircraft, which is being developed as a competitor to the Boeing 787, is made of composite materials. Last summer, Airbus purchased Read Full Post
The significance of wind energy is increasing throughout Europe.
A study carried out by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) shows that capacity increased by just under 20% to almost 65,000 megawatts in 2008. The possibility for growth is Read Full Post
The first is 2.59 meters long with an efficient electric motor designed for nipping round towns and cities (top speed 120 km/h).
The second is a luxury sports car delivering Read Full Post
The latest innovation from Huntsman Advanced Materials GmbH of Basle is a one-piece hockey stick. It is manufactured from a new ductile modified highly modern artificial resin system, known as Read Full Post
The 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver consisted not only of a fight between athletes but also a contest between materials.
Light, strong, flexible – these are the requirements that must be provided by sports equipment.
2009 was also a difficult year for the processors of fibre composites. According to the information given by the Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK), the demand for and the production of duroplastic SMC and BMC components was determined by market developments in the main automobile and electronic applications.
The “Envirez” material from Ashland Performance Materials is used in boatbuilding (Photo: Ashland).
Steigender Absatz von Holz-Polymer-Werkstoffen (Wood Plastic Composites) auch in der Wirtschaftskrise. Der Dritte Deutsche WPC-Kongress in Köln (2. und 3. Dezember) kann sich mit 300 Teilnehmern aus 26 Ländern sowie 30 Ausstellern als europäischer Leitkongress der Branche weiter etablieren.
Eine Direktcompounding-Technologie haben DSM Composite Resins, Dieffenbacher und das Fraunhofer ITC gemeinsam entwickelt und bei einer Pressekonferenz auf der Composites Europe 2009 der Öffentlichkeit vorgestellt. “Wir erweitern damit den Einsatzbereich duroplastischer Composites auf die Fertigung komplexer und großer Teile in hohen Stückzahlen bei hoher Flexibilität”, erklärte Wilfrid Gambade, Business Director Composite Resins bei DSM.
Werkstofflieferant, Anlagenbauer und Forschungseinrichtung warfen ihr Know-how zusammen und erschlossen mit der neuen Technologie Anwendungen, die mit den bisherigen Verfahren der Duroplastverarbeitung nicht machbar waren. “Die Idee entstand bei einer gemeinsamen Geschäftsreise”, erklärten Heinrich Ernst, Leiter des Geschäftsbereichs Composites bei Dieffenbacher, und Prof. Dr. Frank Henning, Deputy Director beim Fraunhofer Institut für Chemische Technologie.
To ensure their suitability when used in wind energy systems, the epoxy resin adhesives used must be suitably certified by Germanischer Lloyd (GL). This is because rotor blades must withstand extreme stresses. The larger the unit, the higher the demands on the fatigue strength of the rotor blades manufactured from composites. In the near future, experts predict 10 megawatt systems with 80 metre long wind vanes.
The enormous rotor blades consist of two half shells, that are produced in suitable moulds from cross-linked hard foams and inserted balsa woods, which are subsequently stuck together. The balsa wood is cultivated in plantations in Ecuador and is harvested after six years. From a one metre long tree trunk, rectangular timber sections are cut and stuck together to make 1.22 metre long and five centimetre wide ashlars. These blocks are then cut into boards against the grain and finely sprayed with a resin solution to protect them against moisture.
Epoxy resins are the elixir for numerous composite applications. They consist of polymers, which together with suitable hardeners produce a duroplastic plastic of high strength and chemical stability. When epoxy resin and hardener are mixed, after a specific time, curing of the originally viscose mixture takes place. Depending on the formulation and temperature, this time span can take a few minutes or may last several hours. In some cases, the curing time may also take several months.
The Krempel-Group, from Vaihingen, offers with the BD system, prepregs that are based on modified epoxy resins with high impact resistance and excellent dynamic properties. These can be processed into high strength structural components with all standard processes. The curing range is between 85 and 140 degrees Celsius, the maximum dimensional stability under heat is 125 degrees Celsius.
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