COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Blog

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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Only one more year to go: For 200,000 dollars well-heeled flight enthusiasts will then be able to fly with SpaceShipTwo to a height of 110 kilometres (68 miles) above the surface of the earth, where space begins. The idea for this so-called space tourism came from Richard Branson, the British billionaire, entrepreneur and founder of the Virgin record label. The specially established company Virgin Galactic (VG) is to implement his concept.

Branson is building the first private spaceport for space tourists in New Mexico, and is investing several hundred million euros in this. It is said that several tens of thousands of would-be space tourists have already applied for a flight with SpaceShipTwo. These suborbital spaceplanes are being developed by Scaled Composites, which had already produced the previous model SpaceShipOne, with which it won a renowned competition.

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