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Composite textiles by vombaur for innovations in architecture and the construction industry (c) vombaur
Low effort, low weight: Maintenance with fibre-reinforce materials
13.10.2021

Composite textiles by vombaur for innovations in architecture and the construction industry

  • Composites in the construction industry - The lightweight construction material of the future

Building with fibre-reinforced materials opens up completely new possibilities. In terms of engineering, design, and organisation. This is due, on the one hand, to the excellent properties of fibre-reinforced materials (FRM) and, on the other hand, to the fact that the material – unlike wood or brick, for example – is not machined or processed for its use, but custom-produced.

Excellent properties – in terms of engineering, design, and organisation
Fibre-composite materials offer a whole range of technical properties for innovative and sustainable building:
•    High mechanical rigidity
•    Low weight
•    High corrosion resistance
•    Low material fatigue
•    Low heat transfer coefficient of the plastic matrix
•    Resistance to frost and de-icing salt
•    Good draping capability

  • Composites in the construction industry - The lightweight construction material of the future

Building with fibre-reinforced materials opens up completely new possibilities. In terms of engineering, design, and organisation. This is due, on the one hand, to the excellent properties of fibre-reinforced materials (FRM) and, on the other hand, to the fact that the material – unlike wood or brick, for example – is not machined or processed for its use, but custom-produced.

Excellent properties – in terms of engineering, design, and organisation
Fibre-composite materials offer a whole range of technical properties for innovative and sustainable building:
•    High mechanical rigidity
•    Low weight
•    High corrosion resistance
•    Low material fatigue
•    Low heat transfer coefficient of the plastic matrix
•    Resistance to frost and de-icing salt
•    Good draping capability

In addition, fibre composites offer numerous design options for novel and exceptional new building and maintenance projects:
•    Unique variety of shapes
•    Different structures of the textiles
•    Large spectrum of colours and colour combinations
•    Translucency of the plastic matrix
Thanks to these properties, composites can be used to produce coloured, phosphorescent, thermochromic or – through the use of LEDs or light-conducting fibres permanently integrated into the matrix – luminescent components.

In addition, there are organisational benefits for planning, construction and maintenance work with fibre-reinforced materials:
•    Easier handling and assembly of the far lighter and more flexible components – compared with steel, concrete or wood
•    Faster installation
•    Shorter construction site times in road and bridge maintenance
•    Shorter delivery times
•    Ability to integrate electronic monitoring systems

Individual composite textiles – for every lightweight engineering project
The composites experts at vombaur develop and manufacture woven tapes and seamless round or shaped woven textiles from carbon, glass, flax or other high-performance fibres on special weaving lines for individually specified round and shaped woven textiles – and can therefore offer you the best possible fibre base for every lightweight construction project.

"Regardless of whether it's a new construction or a renovation project, a façade design, a bridge or a staircase – as your development partner for composite textiles, we have plenty of experience with composites for demanding tasks," emphasises Dr.-Ing. Sven Schöfer, Head of Development and Innovation at vombaur. "We develop, create samples and manufacture woven tapes and seamless round or shaped woven textiles – in collaboration with the customer enterprise development teams and individually for the respective projects." This is how novel and unique lightweight components made of high-performance textiles are created for visionary projects.

CU Bau: Klimaschonendes Sanieren und Bauen (c) IMA Dresden
Faserverbundwerkstoffe im Hochbau
07.10.2021

CU Bau: Klimaschonendes Sanieren und Bauen

Stark steigende Baustoffpreise, immer knapper werdende Rohstoffe sowie steigende Preise für CO2-Zertifkate und Strom erhöhen den Druck, klimafreundliche und doch wettbewerbsfähige Produkte zu verwenden und innovative Produkte, Verfahren und Prozesse dafür zu entwickeln.

Für diese Herausforderungen im Bauwesen bietet der Leichtbau mit Faserverbundwerkstoffen neue Lösungen und ein enormes Anwendungspotential. Bisher sind diese Werkstoffe im Bauwesen noch nicht in ausreichendem Umfang etabliert und bei vielen Entscheidern noch nicht Teil der Lösung. Deshalb treibt das Fachnetzwerk CU Bau des Composites United e.V. (CU) als nationale und internationale Plattform dieses Thema für seine Mitglieder aus Industrie und Wissenschaft voran.

Stark steigende Baustoffpreise, immer knapper werdende Rohstoffe sowie steigende Preise für CO2-Zertifkate und Strom erhöhen den Druck, klimafreundliche und doch wettbewerbsfähige Produkte zu verwenden und innovative Produkte, Verfahren und Prozesse dafür zu entwickeln.

Für diese Herausforderungen im Bauwesen bietet der Leichtbau mit Faserverbundwerkstoffen neue Lösungen und ein enormes Anwendungspotential. Bisher sind diese Werkstoffe im Bauwesen noch nicht in ausreichendem Umfang etabliert und bei vielen Entscheidern noch nicht Teil der Lösung. Deshalb treibt das Fachnetzwerk CU Bau des Composites United e.V. (CU) als nationale und internationale Plattform dieses Thema für seine Mitglieder aus Industrie und Wissenschaft voran.

Hybride Bauweisen
Roy Thyroff, im Netzwerk Composites United e.V. Geschäftsführer CU Bau: „Unser Ziel ist, dass die gesamte Bauwirtschaft – Architekten, Planer, Bauingenieure, Zulassungsstellen sowie Bauunternehmen – Bauprodukte mit faserverstärkter Beton- und Polymermatrix mit entsprechenden Zulassungen einsetzen kann.“ Dabei geht es nicht nur um Bauweisen mit faserverstärkten Kunststoffen und textilbewehrtem Beton, sondern darüber hinaus auch um hybride Bauweisen, wie z.B. Hybridbauwerke aus Holz und Carbonbeton. Denn faserbasierter, hybrider Leichtbau führt die besten Eigenschaften verschiedener Materialien klimafreundlich zusammen, bietet somit gegenüber herkömmlichen Baustoffen große Vorteile für den Klimaschutz und ermöglicht völlig neue Bauweisen.

Vorteile von Faserverbundwerkstoffen
Faserverbundwerkstoffe sind sowohl im Neubau als auch in der Sanierung dank ihrer umwelt- und ressourcenschonenden Eigenschaften im Vorteil. Neben der CO2-Reduktion liegen die wesentlichen Vorteil:

  • in der Geschwindigkeit der Ausführung,
  • dem geringeren Materialeinsatz,
  • der Kostenreduktion,
  • der Leistungsfähigkeit wie hoher Druck- und Biegezugfestigkeit,
  • dem einfacheren Handling
  • den geringeren Transportlasten,
  • der Beständigkeit gegen Korrosion,
  • der Flexibilität bei unterschiedlichen Schädigungsgraden eines Sanierungsfalls und
  • der deutlich verlängerten Nutzungsdauer.
Source:

Composites United e.V. (CU) / bm CONSULTING

Hexcel and HP Composites Collaborate to Develop Class A Body Panels (c) Hexcel
2020-Alfa-Giulia-GTAm
29.09.2021

Hexcel and HP Composites Collaborate to Develop Class A Body Panels

Hexcel has collaborated with HP Composites S.p.A (HP Composites), a world leader in the production of carbon fiber components for automotive and motorsports, to develop carbon fiber Class A body panels. Hexcel HexPly® XF surfacing technology is being extensively used by the Italian component producer to manufacture external body panels and other components for supercars such as Alfa Romeo’s stunning new supersport sedans, the Giulia GTA, and GTAm.

With five production plants in Italy, HP Composites has built an impressive track record of high-performance composite successes on both road and racetrack. HP has combined this processing expertise with Hexcel HexPly® XF3 surfacing material, HexPly® M47, and HexPly® M49 prepregs, working to the highest standards set by the most prestigious supercar OEMs and leading motorsport teams.

Hexcel has collaborated with HP Composites S.p.A (HP Composites), a world leader in the production of carbon fiber components for automotive and motorsports, to develop carbon fiber Class A body panels. Hexcel HexPly® XF surfacing technology is being extensively used by the Italian component producer to manufacture external body panels and other components for supercars such as Alfa Romeo’s stunning new supersport sedans, the Giulia GTA, and GTAm.

With five production plants in Italy, HP Composites has built an impressive track record of high-performance composite successes on both road and racetrack. HP has combined this processing expertise with Hexcel HexPly® XF3 surfacing material, HexPly® M47, and HexPly® M49 prepregs, working to the highest standards set by the most prestigious supercar OEMs and leading motorsport teams.

Hexcel’s automotive composites portfolio is the result of decades of industry experience and the creation of strategic partnerships to develop and optimize leading-edge technologies. HexPly XF3 is an epoxy prepreg surface material, developed with processing input from the HP Composites team to address the challenges of producing high-quality Class A automotive body panel surfaces with excellent resistance to aging tests.

Applied as the first ply in the mold and after curing at 120-180˚C in an autoclave, HexPly XF3 produces a smooth part surface with no porosity, that requires minimal preparation for painting.

HexPly XF3 is supplied in an easy-to-handle roll format with good tack and drapability. After curing, it can be easily prepared for painting with a rapid sanding process. HP Composites has incorporated automated robotic sanding techniques for this finishing stage with the paint-ready HexPly XF3 surface providing excellent paint adhesion according to EN ISO 2409.

HP Composites typically uses autoclave processing for HexPly XF3 parts, maximizing weight savings and structural performance of the final components. In addition, HP has also developed its own proprietary press and compression molding processes, including Air Press Moulding® technology, compatible with HexPly XF3 and other HexPly prepregs for higher volume production series that require increased production rates.

“Our long-term experience has given us a detailed understanding of the critical features that influence how prepregs and surfacing technologies interact with different production processes,” said Abramo Levato, General Manager, HP Composites S.p.A. “The relationship we have with Hexcel is both highly technical and highly supportive. As a result we have a complete material package for high-quality Class A body panels that are formulated specifically with our requirements in mind.”

“Combining the expertise of HP with a strong technical interaction and collaborative dialogue, Hexcel and HP were together able to develop the optimum HexPly XF surfacing technology,” said Claude Despierres, VP Sales and Marketing, Hexcel. “With HexPly XF3 we satisfy the toughest industry standards.”

16th World Pultrusion Conference - CALL FOR PAPERS
WPC2022
22.09.2021

16th World Pultrusion Conference - CALL FOR PAPERS

The EPTA – European Pultrusion Technology Association organizes in cooperation with the ACMA – American Composites Manufacturers Association - the 16th World Pultrusion Conference on 03 – 04 March 2022 in Paris, France (as a “hybrid event”, this conference will also have the option of online access). The conference is one of the leading pultrusion events in the world. The event takes place just before the JEC World 2022 in Paris (08 – 10 March 2022).

The presentations are to document innovations in the following subject areas of pultruded reinforced plastics:

● Market development in Europe, USA, Asia
● Innovative applications
● New Markets: Ideas for potential new applications with pultruded shapes or systems
● Sustainability: Technical possibilities, recycling, etc.
● Raw materials
   ○ Development of fibres
   ○ Development of resins
● Construction / Testing / Calculation
● Processes

The EPTA – European Pultrusion Technology Association organizes in cooperation with the ACMA – American Composites Manufacturers Association - the 16th World Pultrusion Conference on 03 – 04 March 2022 in Paris, France (as a “hybrid event”, this conference will also have the option of online access). The conference is one of the leading pultrusion events in the world. The event takes place just before the JEC World 2022 in Paris (08 – 10 March 2022).

The presentations are to document innovations in the following subject areas of pultruded reinforced plastics:

● Market development in Europe, USA, Asia
● Innovative applications
● New Markets: Ideas for potential new applications with pultruded shapes or systems
● Sustainability: Technical possibilities, recycling, etc.
● Raw materials
   ○ Development of fibres
   ○ Development of resins
● Construction / Testing / Calculation
● Processes

The presentation language will be English. Deadline for paper submission (title, short abstract, speaker name and address) until 15th October 2021 to info@pultruders.com.
 
The European Pultrusion Technology Association was created in 1989 by a group of leading European pultruders with the mission of supporting the growth of the pultrusion industry by maximising external communication efforts and encouraging knowledge sharing between members. Since 2006, the association has existed under the umbrella of the AVK – Federation of Reinforced Plastics in Frankfurt, Germany. Membership of EPTA is open to all companies and individuals worldwide wishing to further the application of pultruded profiles. For further information visit http://www.pultruders.com.

(c) Notus Composites. Notus NE7 low temperature curing prepreg
15.09.2021

Notus Composites Launches New Low Temperature Curing NE7 Epoxy Prepreg

Notus Composites (UAE), the award-winning producer of epoxy prepreg materials, announces the latest addition to its high-performance epoxy range with the launch of its new NE7 low temperature curing prepreg system. The Notus NE7 formulation allows composite manufacturers to cure components at temperatures as low as 70˚C, reducing energy consumption and enabling more cost-effective tooling options.

Notus Composites has developed the new NE7 prepreg systems for applications across the Marine, Architecture, Industrial and Wind Energy sectors, with the novel low temperature curing chemistry delivery significant cost benefits. Existing prepreg manufacturers can now use more cost-effective composite tooling, with new prepreg users able to switch easily from existing infusion or wet laminating processes without creating expensive new high temperature tooling.

Notus Composites (UAE), the award-winning producer of epoxy prepreg materials, announces the latest addition to its high-performance epoxy range with the launch of its new NE7 low temperature curing prepreg system. The Notus NE7 formulation allows composite manufacturers to cure components at temperatures as low as 70˚C, reducing energy consumption and enabling more cost-effective tooling options.

Notus Composites has developed the new NE7 prepreg systems for applications across the Marine, Architecture, Industrial and Wind Energy sectors, with the novel low temperature curing chemistry delivery significant cost benefits. Existing prepreg manufacturers can now use more cost-effective composite tooling, with new prepreg users able to switch easily from existing infusion or wet laminating processes without creating expensive new high temperature tooling.

NE7 prepregs can be cured at temperatures as low as 70˚C, with the standard cure cycle being 12 hours at 70˚C, matching the typical cycle time for an infused part with a component Tg of 85˚C. NE7 materials have a good outlife of 30 days at 20˚C and are available in all prepreg and Notus single sided N1-Preg formats with unidirectional, multiaxial, and woven reinforcements. NE7 can also be supplied as a resin film.

Notus has recently supplied NE7 low temperature prepregs to Dubai based Aeolos Composites for the production of their new Aeolos P30 racing yacht. The P30 is a futuristic new craft created by top German sailor and designer, Hans Genthe, with a super light carbon fibre construction and large sail area that promises spectacular on the water performance for a thirty foot yacht. Notus delivered a range NE7 prepregs for the build, including woven, multiaxial, and unidirectional carbon fibre reinforcements as well as adhesive films for core bonding.

More information:
Notus prepreg material
Source:

Notus Composites.

powerribs with inset bonnet (c) Composites Evolution
04.08.2021

Composites Evolution: New range of flax-epoxy prepreg materials

Composites Evolution Ltd has teamed up with leading natural fibre reinforcement specialists Bcomp to launch a new range of flax-epoxy prepreg materials, designed to offer enhanced sustainability without compromising on performance.

Evopreg ampliTex™ prepregs combine Composites Evolution’s high-performance Evopreg epoxy resin systems with Bcomp’s award-winning ampliTex™ flax reinforcements, to deliver a family of materials which offer outstanding performance for component applications.

To reach the full performance of natural fibres, Evopreg ampliTex™ prepregs have been tailored to be compatible with Bcomp’s powerRibs™ reinforcement grid, enabling the same stiffness and weight as thin-walled monolithic carbon fibre parts while decreasing the CO2 footprint by 85% and improving safety thanks to a blunt braking behaviour without dangerous debris or sharp edges.

Composites Evolution Ltd has teamed up with leading natural fibre reinforcement specialists Bcomp to launch a new range of flax-epoxy prepreg materials, designed to offer enhanced sustainability without compromising on performance.

Evopreg ampliTex™ prepregs combine Composites Evolution’s high-performance Evopreg epoxy resin systems with Bcomp’s award-winning ampliTex™ flax reinforcements, to deliver a family of materials which offer outstanding performance for component applications.

To reach the full performance of natural fibres, Evopreg ampliTex™ prepregs have been tailored to be compatible with Bcomp’s powerRibs™ reinforcement grid, enabling the same stiffness and weight as thin-walled monolithic carbon fibre parts while decreasing the CO2 footprint by 85% and improving safety thanks to a blunt braking behaviour without dangerous debris or sharp edges.

Composites Evolution’s Sales & Marketing Director, Ben Hargreaves, explains further.
“Sustainability is an increasingly important factor for many of our customers - particularly those involved in motorsports and high-performance automotive applications. As you’d expect in these sectors though, sustainability can’t come at the expense of performance the two must go hand-in-hand. This is something that other prepreggers can struggle with, as natural fibres behave very differently to carbon or glass, for example.”

Customers would be able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of natural fibre composites, and to show where and how they can be adopted without the need for significant changes to existing composite component production processes.

One such customer is Retrac Group, whose composites division is one of the UK’s most experienced composites engineering companies across motorsports, automotive and aerospace. It recently used Evopreg ampliTex™ + powerRibs™ to produce a demonstrator bonnet panel for a race-bred supercar. Project Manager Alan Purves explains.


“We’re seeing a growing interest in flax fibre composites, particularly in the motorsports and niche vehicle sectors. It is therefore essential that we have developed an in-depth understanding of the processing requirements and performance capabilities of these materials, and are ready to respond to our customers' requirements. Being able to tap into the combined expertise and experience of both Composites Evolution and Bcomp is proving invaluable.”

Source:

Composites Evolution

20.07.2021

Hexcel: Speeding up new Product Development Cycles for Rassini

Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composites technologies, confirms that its HexPly® M901 prepreg system has been selected by Rassini, a Mexico-based technology leader in composite vehicle suspension systems, to speed up prototype and new product development cycles, reducing overall time to market with an easy to process material solution that enables effective early-stage design screening and cost-effective production.  

As a specialist in the mass production of composite helper leaf springs for various leading OEMs, Rassini continuously develops innovative new suspension component designs. Due to cost and timing, however, these new products cannot easily be prototyped using conventional high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) technology.

Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composites technologies, confirms that its HexPly® M901 prepreg system has been selected by Rassini, a Mexico-based technology leader in composite vehicle suspension systems, to speed up prototype and new product development cycles, reducing overall time to market with an easy to process material solution that enables effective early-stage design screening and cost-effective production.  

As a specialist in the mass production of composite helper leaf springs for various leading OEMs, Rassini continuously develops innovative new suspension component designs. Due to cost and timing, however, these new products cannot easily be prototyped using conventional high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) technology.

With more than 15 years of experience in delivering glass fiber prepregs for the serial production of composite leaf springs, Hexcel developed its high-performance HexPly M901 prepreg system specifically for this type of application. HexPly M901 combines the right level of structural performance required with simple processing, providing Rassini with a reliable material solution optimized for rapid development and fine-tuning iterations.

HexPly M901 is a high Tg epoxy resin prepreg system specifically developed for structural components that will be exposed to harsh thermal and environmental conditions.  With short cure cycles of 10 minutes and below producing excellent green, or handling, strength of the composite part for demolding and unidirectional glass fiber aerial weights up to 1,600gsm, HexPly M901 delivers a powerful combination of benefits for suspension component applications.

More information:
Hexcel’s HexPly® Hexcel
Source:

Hexcel Corporation

Hexcel showcases Carbon Fiber Prepreg Capability for UAV Applications (c) Hexcel Corporation
07.07.2021

Hexcel showcases Carbon Fiber Prepreg Capability for UAV Applications

Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composites technologies, announces the successful maiden flight of a lightweight camera drone, developed using Hexcel HexPly® carbon fiber prepregs. The composite drone was developed by a team of students from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Wels with composite materials supplied by Hexcel Neumarkt in Austria.

A team of six students in the university’s lightweight construction and composite materials course was responsible for the complete design, engineering, and manufacture of the camera drone over a period of 18 months. Hexcel materials and optimization of the composite engineering enabled the team to reduce the composite structural mass by an impressive 42% compared to similar drones.

Hexcel, a global leader in advanced composites technologies, announces the successful maiden flight of a lightweight camera drone, developed using Hexcel HexPly® carbon fiber prepregs. The composite drone was developed by a team of students from the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Wels with composite materials supplied by Hexcel Neumarkt in Austria.

A team of six students in the university’s lightweight construction and composite materials course was responsible for the complete design, engineering, and manufacture of the camera drone over a period of 18 months. Hexcel materials and optimization of the composite engineering enabled the team to reduce the composite structural mass by an impressive 42% compared to similar drones.

Hexcel Neumarkt was one of eight industrial partners supporting the university team throughout the project, providing all carbon fiber prepreg materials used for the drone’s landing gear as well as the fuselage. The ultra-lightweight 32g landing gear was laid up and cured in the press, whereas the fuselage was autoclave cured by the student team using Hexcel HexPly M901 and HexPly M78.1 prepreg resin systems with a combination of woven and unidirectional carbon fiber reinforcements.

With the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) as a key emerging market and innovation space in the transportation sector, Hexcel’s collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria team not only creates an important link with the next generation of lightweight composite engineers but also highlights the weight saving and structural benefits of Hexcel composite material solutions.

"The massive weight saving achieved with their updated version of the camera drone is a fantastic achievement by the student team," said Michael Rabl, Dean of FH Wels of the Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences. "The joint study not only illustrates the wide range of complex and innovative composite techniques present in the drone sector but also presents the opportunities that exist for further development in the wider Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and aerospace composites markets.”

Hexcel congratulates the project team which includes Lukas Weninger, Karl-Heinz Schneider, Jakob Schlosser, Matthias Thon, Marla Unter, and Simone Hartl on an exceptional piece of lightweight composite design and thanks them for showcasing the contribution of Hexcel materials with a presentation and drone flight. Johanna Arndt, research and technology group leader at Hexcel Neumarkt, said, “It was a great pleasure to work with the team who were very cooperative and self-motivated to succeed. Watching the drone just fly around the Neumarkt plant was just great.”

Hexcel manufactures a complete range of carbon fibers, dry carbon UD tapes, specialty reinforcements, prepregs, and honeycomb core materials, providing customized manufacturing options for new UAM applications that combine aerospace reliability with the high-rate production required. Hexcel composite materials are the ideal solution for the lightest and most efficient cost-competitive transportation vehicles of the future.

Source:

Hexcel Corporation / 100% Marketing

28.06.2021

AVK-Arbeitskreise für aktuelle Schwerpunktthemen

Nachhaltigkeit, Recycling sowie E-Mobilität spielen auch bei der Herstellung und Verwendung von Composites eine immer größere Rolle und sind deshalb wichtige Themen in neuen oder bewährten Experten-Arbeitskreisen der AVK – Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe.

Die Themen Energiewende, Ressourcenschonung und Nachhaltigkeit sind Kernthemen des derzeitigen gesellschaftlichen und kulturellen Wandels. Die Nutzung und Schonung natürlicher Ressourcen und der Umgang mit dem Planeten Erde als Ökosystem generell sind zentrale Elemente des politischen Diskurses und halten Einzug in fast alle gesellschaftlichen und industriellen Themenbereiche. Das ökologische Bewusstsein hat in der Bevölkerung in den letzten Jahren massiv zugenommen und dieser Trend verstärkt sich auch weiterhin.

Nachhaltigkeit, Recycling sowie E-Mobilität spielen auch bei der Herstellung und Verwendung von Composites eine immer größere Rolle und sind deshalb wichtige Themen in neuen oder bewährten Experten-Arbeitskreisen der AVK – Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe.

Die Themen Energiewende, Ressourcenschonung und Nachhaltigkeit sind Kernthemen des derzeitigen gesellschaftlichen und kulturellen Wandels. Die Nutzung und Schonung natürlicher Ressourcen und der Umgang mit dem Planeten Erde als Ökosystem generell sind zentrale Elemente des politischen Diskurses und halten Einzug in fast alle gesellschaftlichen und industriellen Themenbereiche. Das ökologische Bewusstsein hat in der Bevölkerung in den letzten Jahren massiv zugenommen und dieser Trend verstärkt sich auch weiterhin.

Auch Composites als Konstruktionsmaterialien und werkstoffliche Alternative zu etablierten Materialsystemen müssen sich diesen Themenbereichen stellen. Kunststoffe in all ihrer Vielfalt können, aufgrund ihrer Langlebigkeit, auch zu einem Problem werden. Hier gilt es Konzepte zu entwickeln und im industriellen Maßstab Lösungen umzusetzen. Nicht zuletzt wegen ihrer hohen Relevanz und der Aktualität nehmen entsprechende Themen in neuen, aber auch bewährten Experten-Arbeitskreisen der AVK einen breiten Raum ein.

Composites können durch ihre große Material- und Eigenschaftsvielfalt perfekt an die aktuellen Herausforderungen bei den Themen im Energie-, Automobil- und Bausektor angepasst werden. Ihre besonderen Eigenschaften haben sie vor allem in den Anwendungen bekannt gemacht, bei denen Leichtbau, Langlebigkeit, Korrosionsbeständigkeit und Wartungsarmut gefordert sind. Windkraftanlagen beispielsweise wären ohne Composites nicht denkbar.

Hervorragende Eigenschaften in der Nutzungsphase reichen heute nicht mehr aus: Konstruktionsmaterialien müssen ihre Eignung über den gesamten Lebenszyklus nachweisen. Das Thema Nachhaltigkeit wird in allen Anwendungsbereichen immer wichtiger. Neue AVK-Arbeitskreise zu Themen wie Werkstoffeigenschaften und -anforderungen für die E-Mobilität, Recycling von Composites oder auch zu Thermoplastischen Composites-Rohren zeigen, welch große Dynamik im Composites-Sektor herrscht und was für die Zukunft möglich ist.

Auch die Themen in bewährten Arbeitskreisen werden aktuell ergänzt, wie z. B. SMC-Anwendungen in der Elektro-Mobilität oder die Vorteile von pultrudierten Composites im Infrastrukturbereich. Dabei bietet auch der Leichtbau von Komponenten in den weiter auf Einsparung von Ressourcen bedachten Industriesektoren eine große Vielfalt an Einsatzmöglichkeiten für Composites. Bereits heute zeigen sich Composites auch im Hinblick auf die Nachhaltigkeit vielfach gut aufgestellt.

Die Teilnahme an den AVK-Expertenarbeitskreisen ist für Mitarbeiter von Mitgliedsunternehmen kostenlos. Mehr zu den Themen rund um die Arbeitskreise auf www.avk-tv.de

ITA
04.05.2021

2021 Aachen Reinforced! Symposium free of charge for all attendees

Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University has changed the format of the 2021 Aachen Reinforced! Symposium to an online only format. The programme was shortened to suit the new format, with presentations taking place on Monday 10th May and Tuesday 11th May.

Institut für Textiltechnik of RWTH Aachen University has changed the format of the 2021 Aachen Reinforced! Symposium to an online only format. The programme was shortened to suit the new format, with presentations taking place on Monday 10th May and Tuesday 11th May.

The conference program for Monday, 10th May:
The programme will begin with exciting presentations on glass chemistry and fibres. A talk by Dr Anne Berthereau (Owens Corning Composites) on the race for always higher modulus glass fibres will be followed by a talk from Dr Hong Li (Nippon Electric Glass) on the potential of new high-strength and high-modulus glass fibres.
After two further presentations on high modulus and bioactive glass fibres from Muawia Dafir and Julia Eichhorn (TU Bergakademie Freiberg), we will learn about furnace efficiency as well as process monitoring and digitalisation in glass fibre production from René Meulemann (CelSian), Hans Gedon (Gedonsoft) and Julius Golovatchev (Incotelogy) respectively.
A presentation by Felix Quintero Martínez (Universidade de Vigo) will explore a novel method to produce ultra-flexible glass nanofibers.
The afternoon will continue with two presentations by Dr Christina Scheffler (Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V. (IPF)) and Professor James Thomason (University of Strathclyde) in the field of glass fibre sizings and fibre-matrix interfaces. Finally, a closing presentation by Steve Bassetti (Michelman) will conclude the first day of the Symposium.

The entire conference programme is available on the website https://aachen-fibres.com/aachen-reinforced/general-information.
To register for the Symposium, use the following link: https://aachen-fibres.com/aachen-reinforced/registration

04.05.2021

More than 1,000 companies to exhibit at JEC Composites Connect

On June 1-2, 2021, JEC Composites Connect, the first round-the-clock digital event of the composites industry, will host significant industry players, enabling participants to discover their latest innovations. Three competitions the JEC Composites Challenge, the JEC Composites Startup Booster, and the famous JEC Composites Innovation Award, will also put the spotlights on the most innovative solutions and products this year

Key Figures

More than 1,000 companies from all the composites value chain spanning 46 countries will participate, network, and present their latest products on their digital booths.

Exhibitor’s breakdown by industrial sector :

  • Raw materials
  • Intermediate products
  • Equipment, tools, and ancillary products
  • Distribution, agents, and representation
  • Third parties, services, engineering, and R&D
  • Composite’s part producers and processors
  • Composite’s end-users and integrators

Highlighting excellence and innovation

On June 1-2, 2021, JEC Composites Connect, the first round-the-clock digital event of the composites industry, will host significant industry players, enabling participants to discover their latest innovations. Three competitions the JEC Composites Challenge, the JEC Composites Startup Booster, and the famous JEC Composites Innovation Award, will also put the spotlights on the most innovative solutions and products this year

Key Figures

More than 1,000 companies from all the composites value chain spanning 46 countries will participate, network, and present their latest products on their digital booths.

Exhibitor’s breakdown by industrial sector :

  • Raw materials
  • Intermediate products
  • Equipment, tools, and ancillary products
  • Distribution, agents, and representation
  • Third parties, services, engineering, and R&D
  • Composite’s part producers and processors
  • Composite’s end-users and integrators

Highlighting excellence and innovation

JEC Composites connect will also be the place to promote the composites sector’s biggest innovative projects. Many product launches are expected to be announced over the two days of the show, evidences a solidly dynamic sector led by high-performance and environmentally friendly innovations.

Among which 65 product launches are listed in the 2021 Innovation Report: from Raw materials, Intermediates and Ancillary, R&D to Production and Equipment, including Simulation and Measurement and Services.

Competitions and awards ceremonies

The JEC Composites Challenge will give the floor to ten young researchers from around the world on June 2nd at 12pm CEST. They will have five minutes to convince a panel of judges composed of leading industrial players in the composites sector. The competition builds bridges between research and industry and is a highlight of the event.

The 2021 JEC Composites Startup Booster has a line-up of 20 finalists who will pitch during two live sessions on June 1st from 10:30 am to 11:30 am and from 5 pm to 6 pm CEST. The 2021 JEC Composites Innovation Awards will celebrate the most innovative composites projects and fruitful collaborations between different value chain players in 2021.

Source:

JEC Group

AMAC kooperiert mit ITA (Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen und deren ITA GmbH) für die weitere Geschäftsentwicklung im Bereich Composites  © AMAC
fltr: Markus Beckmann, Prof. Thomas Gries, Dr. Michael Effing, Dr. Christoph Greb
19.04.2021

AMAC cooperates with ITA

AMAC cooperates with ITA (Institute for Textile Technology of RWTH Aachen University and their ITA GmbH) for the business development in composites 

As of April 19th, 2021, AMAC is pleased to announce its cooperation with the Institute for Textile Technology, ITA, of RWTH Aachen University and their ITA GmbH. The aim of the cooperation is to strengthen and develop their business activities in composites.

AMAC cooperates with ITA (Institute for Textile Technology of RWTH Aachen University and their ITA GmbH) for the business development in composites 

As of April 19th, 2021, AMAC is pleased to announce its cooperation with the Institute for Textile Technology, ITA, of RWTH Aachen University and their ITA GmbH. The aim of the cooperation is to strengthen and develop their business activities in composites.

ITA, as one of the largest institutes on the campus of the excellence University RWTH Aachen, Germany, develops complete solutions from the manufacturing of the fiber itself over the processing of textile intermediates with thermoplastic and thermoset resins, textile-based part manufacturing, capabilities such as braiding, pultrusion and in-situ impregnation of textile preforms. Top 3 focused industries are transportation and particularly the e-mobility sector, building and construction as well as the wind energy sector. Additionally, ITA GmbH is the partner of the industry in R&D, focusing on 8 business segments, providing technology and knowledge transfer, as well as offering comprehensive solutions along the entire textile value chain.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Gries, Director of ITA, explains the background of the strategic cooperation with focus on composites: „Our long-term experience and unmatched know-how with all aspects of continuous fibers, non-wovens and web-based reinforcements allows us to deliver to the composite manufacturers a complete technology and service offer around the development of technical textiles, from the development of glass and carbon fibers to the textile-based processing of composite parts. In all process steps of our research and developments, we focus on sustainable and recyclable solutions, an efficient cost-performance ratio, the possible use of bio-based materials and the reduction of the CO2 footprint. We are glad to cooperate with Dr. Michael Effing and AMAC in order to benefit from his door-opening network in the composites industry. “

Dr. Michael Effing, Managing Director of AMAC GmbH: „I am very happy to support the ITA to generate innovation thanks to further industrial networking and pre-competitive joint projects. ITA is indeed a one-stop source for composite solutions from the fiber to the cost-efficient manufacturing of final parts. In the context of the Covid-19 impact to the entire industry, it makes sense to bundle forces. Furthermore, ITA, with its long tradition and satisfied customers offers further valuable networking opportunities to the composites industry as well as access to relevant complementary fiber-based excellence and 250 different technologies in their machine-park with an outstanding infrastructure in Aachen.”

AVK: Elektro-Mobilität bietet große Chancen für den Einsatz von  Composites (c) Volkswagen AG
08.04.2021

AVK: Elektro-Mobilität bietet große Chancen für den Einsatz von Composites

Die anstehende Verkehrswende ist eines der zentralen wirtschaftlichen und industriellen Themen unserer Zeit. Umweltschutz und ein möglichst nachhaltiger Umgang mit unserem Planeten und seinen endlichen Ressourcen sowie der Wunsch nach individueller Mobilität dürfen sich zukünftig nicht mehr gegenseitig ausstechen. Es gilt Lösungen zu finden, die beide Wünsche gleichberechtigt berücksichtigen.

In den letzten Jahren steht bei der Betrachtung möglicher Alternativer Antriebssysteme vor allem der Wechsel von klassischen Verbrennungsmotoren hin zur Elektro-Mobilität im Fokus. Auch wenn es zahlreiche weitere Optionen gibt, so ist diese das derzeit politisch und auch wirtschaftlich oftmals präferierte Modell, auf das die Automobilindustrie mit allen vor- und nachgelagerten Industriezweigen reagieren muss.

Die anstehende Verkehrswende ist eines der zentralen wirtschaftlichen und industriellen Themen unserer Zeit. Umweltschutz und ein möglichst nachhaltiger Umgang mit unserem Planeten und seinen endlichen Ressourcen sowie der Wunsch nach individueller Mobilität dürfen sich zukünftig nicht mehr gegenseitig ausstechen. Es gilt Lösungen zu finden, die beide Wünsche gleichberechtigt berücksichtigen.

In den letzten Jahren steht bei der Betrachtung möglicher Alternativer Antriebssysteme vor allem der Wechsel von klassischen Verbrennungsmotoren hin zur Elektro-Mobilität im Fokus. Auch wenn es zahlreiche weitere Optionen gibt, so ist diese das derzeit politisch und auch wirtschaftlich oftmals präferierte Modell, auf das die Automobilindustrie mit allen vor- und nachgelagerten Industriezweigen reagieren muss.

Auch für die Composites-Industrie ergeben sich neue Herausforderungen. Bislang ist der Transportbereich mit einem Anteil von 32 % das zweitwichtigste Anwendungssegment der Composites Industrie (vgl. Abb. 1). Betrachtet werden hier alle Lang- sowie Endlosfaserverstärkten Materialsysteme. Änderungen und neue Impulse in diesem so wichtigen Bereich haben, sowohl für die deutsche Industrie generell als auch für die Zulieferindustrie im Speziellen, einen fundamentalen Einfluss auf viele Akteure im Composites-Markt.

Bereits vielfach wurde in den letzten Monaten ein Abgesang auf die Composites im Automobilbereich angestimmt, da Leichtbau seinen Einfluss bei der E-Mobilität vermeintlich verloren habe. Dies muss sich, wenn man die reine Physik betrachtet, schon grundlegend als falsch herausstellen und wurde mittlerweile ja auch vielfach entkräftet. Darüber hinaus wird aber übersehen, dass Composites über ein enorm vielfältiges und breites Eigenschaftsniveau, auch über den Leichtbau hinaus aufweisen. Die Leichtbaumöglichkeiten sind nur ein Baustein der für den Einsatz von Composites, vor allem auch in der Elektromobilität spricht.

Wie genau Composites zukünftig eingesetzt werden können und wo sich die meisten Potenziale zeigen, dass war Thema einer Arbeitskreissitzung der AVK zum Thema "Werkstoffeigenschaften und -anforderungen für die E-Mobilität“. Mehr als 150 angemeldete Teilnehmer informierten sich am 24. März über den aktuellen Stand aus Forschung und Entwicklung sowie derzeitige und zukünftige Anwendungsszenarien.

Leitfähige Kunststoffe, Kunststoffe im Hochvoltbereich, aber auch direktgekühlte Motoren aus faserverstärkten Kunststoffen waren dabei ebenso Thema, wie neue Materialentwicklungen und konkrete Anwendungsfelder im PKW-Bereich.

Potenziale für den Einsatz von Kunststoffen und ganz speziell auch Composites zeigen sich beispielsweise im Bereich des Batteriegehäuses bzw. des Deckels der Batteriegehäuse.

Das Batteriegehäuse inklusive Deckel ist in einem Fahrzeug ein Teil der gesamten Fahrzeugstruktur. Das Gehäuse beherbergt die Zellen, die Kühlung, die Verkabelung und schützt vor Crash-/Crush- Schäden. Composites verfügen u. a. über eine gute Zug- und Biegefestigkeit und erhöhen die Steifigkeit. Darüber hinaus ist eine hohe Formstabilität und elektrische Isolation garantiert. Spontanversagen des Bauteils gibt es nicht. EV (electric vehicle)-Batterien haben in der Regel große Dimensionen und ein komplexes Design. Große Bauteile und komplexe Formen lassen sich mit Composites in einem Bauteil darstellen, mehrstufige Verarbeitungsprozesse entfallen. Dies sind nur einige der Vorteile, die durch den Einsatz von Composites entstehen können. Die Experten des AVK-Arbeitskreises waren sich einig: die Elektromobilität bietet vielfältige Chancen für Composites. Man muss als Industrie die sich bietenden Möglichkeiten gemeinsam angehen, um von den anstehenden Änderungen profitieren zu können. Darüber hinaus muss die Vorteilhaftigkeit der Materialien zukünftig noch besser nach außen und zu potenziellen Nutzern/Anwendern kommuniziert werden.

Deswegen wurde entschieden, die Arbeit gemeinsam fortzusetzen. Ein nächstes Treffen des Arbeitskreises „Werkstoffeigenschaften und -anforderungen für die E-Mobilität“ wird am 24.06.2021 stattfinden.
 

Source:

AVK - Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe e. V.

JEC GROUP and AVK to launch new Composites Event for the D-A-CH Region
JEC Forum DACH
06.04.2021

JEC FORUM DACH

  •  JEC GROUP and AVK to launch new Composites Event for the D-A-CH Region

JEC Group and AVK, the Federation of Reinforced Plastics e.V. in Germany have joined forces to organize an annual event for the D-A-CH Region, dedicated to all forms of Composites and their applications. The first edition of the JEC Forum DACH, unique in its format and content, will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany at Messe Forum, from November 23 to 24, 2021. The event will take place at a different location each year to highlight the dynamics and the variety of the composites industry in the DACH region.

JEC Group is launching the JEC Forum DACH in partnership with AVK. Unique in its format, the event will be rotating to different cities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria  every year. This first edition will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from November 23 to 24, 2021.

  •  JEC GROUP and AVK to launch new Composites Event for the D-A-CH Region

JEC Group and AVK, the Federation of Reinforced Plastics e.V. in Germany have joined forces to organize an annual event for the D-A-CH Region, dedicated to all forms of Composites and their applications. The first edition of the JEC Forum DACH, unique in its format and content, will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany at Messe Forum, from November 23 to 24, 2021. The event will take place at a different location each year to highlight the dynamics and the variety of the composites industry in the DACH region.

JEC Group is launching the JEC Forum DACH in partnership with AVK. Unique in its format, the event will be rotating to different cities in Germany, Switzerland and Austria  every year. This first edition will take place in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, from November 23 to 24, 2021.

JEC Forum DACH will include pre-arranged business meetings between sponsors and attendees as well as sponsors workshops. The event will present exclusive content such as an extensive composites conferences program, the annual AVK market overview — also available via live-streaming technology for remote participants — and, last but not least, the prestigious AVK-JEC Innovation Awards.
The JEC Startup Booster competition will also be introduced in the D-A-CH region for the first time. JEC Forum DACH will also provide a Composites Tour to enable participants to visit key players of the local composites ecosystem on November 25.

This event's primary aim is to support the bustling composites industry in this region and resume business after a challenging, yet complex period of time. The event´s agile format will focus on a different application sector, industry as well as other regional composites-related specifities every year. The final goal is to develop business, to connect and reach out to the local industrial apparatus and its major players such as universities, research and development centers and companies of all sizes in a boosting business and innovation spirit.

Source:

AVK - Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe e. V.

Decision SA and Carboman Group Announce New Direct Mould Tooling Technology for Aerospace (c) Decision SA.
new direct mould tooling technology
08.03.2021

Decision SA and Carboman Group Announce New Direct Mould Tooling Technology for Aerospace

Decision SA, part of the leading European composites consortium, Carboman Group, and a specialist in the development, prototyping and production of large composite structures, is proud to announce a new direct mould tooling technology for aerospace.  Decision’s latest tooling solution provides OEMs and manufacturers with short lead times for highly stable direct moulds for series production both in and outside of the autoclave at temperatures of up to 180˚C.

Decision and Carboman recently delivered the first customer moulds using the new technology, providing a tooling glass prepreg, stainless-steel backed direct female mould tool created for the series production of a Class 3 fairing to a leading European aerospace OEM. Decision has immediate availability and capacity for similar tooling projects with lead times currently as short as six to eight weeks.

Decision SA, part of the leading European composites consortium, Carboman Group, and a specialist in the development, prototyping and production of large composite structures, is proud to announce a new direct mould tooling technology for aerospace.  Decision’s latest tooling solution provides OEMs and manufacturers with short lead times for highly stable direct moulds for series production both in and outside of the autoclave at temperatures of up to 180˚C.

Decision and Carboman recently delivered the first customer moulds using the new technology, providing a tooling glass prepreg, stainless-steel backed direct female mould tool created for the series production of a Class 3 fairing to a leading European aerospace OEM. Decision has immediate availability and capacity for similar tooling projects with lead times currently as short as six to eight weeks.

With no traditional plug or mould pattern required, Decision’s direct mould process starts with the group’s engineers selecting a material combination for the tool surface and support structure that will provide the optimum match between the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the mould and the composite part to be processed.  The CNC machined composite face sheet is supported by a stress-relieved metallic or composite backing structure before final post curing and machining is completed. The principal benefit of this novel approach, aside from removing the need for costly and time-consuming plug production, is the production accuracy delivered by the closely matched CTE of the mould tool and the finished composite part.

The autoclaved composite tool surface is not only extremely dimensionally stable up to processing temperatures of 180˚C, but it can also be configured with additional metallic inserts or fixtures if required.  

Produced in an EN 9100:2018 controlled production environment, and with CMM checks before and after machining, the new direct composite tools have dimensional tolerances of +/-0.2mm.  The available tooling dimensional envelope is currently defined by Decision’s 2200mm x 6000mm autoclave.

“With our new direct tooling technology, we are able to combine the highest technical standards in dimensional accuracy and thermal stability with extremely short lead times.  Decision and Carboman Groups’ combined mission has always been to develop the construction methods for tomorrow’s composite structures, and we believe that this tooling solution will allow our customers to accelerate the implementation of the next generation of high-performance carbon fibre aerostructures and components” Grégoire Metz, Managing Director, Decision SA.

Source:

Decision SA.

The Montex®Coat ticks all the right boxes for coating success in 2021 (c) Monforts
A recent Montex®Coat installation at a European mill.
24.02.2021

The Montex®Coat ticks all the right boxes for coating success in 2021

Flexibility, product uniformity and automation are the keys to success for coating businesses in today’s rapidly-changing technical textiles industry, explained Jürgen Hanel, Monforts Head of Technical Textiles, at the recent 1st World Congress on Textile Coating.

Introducing the latest Montex®Coat magnetic roller coating option to virtual delegates from around the world at the conference organised by International Newsletters, Hanel explained why this technology makes perfect sense now

“The magnetic roller system allows a wide range of coatings and finishes to be carried out, while being easy to handle for operators and much easier to clean at the end of the process,” he said. “It provides textile finishers with an expanded range of options due to the fully-adjustable positioning of the magnet within the roller and with four different magnet positions possible, can be set to operate both as a direct coating system and as an indirect coater.”

Flexibility, product uniformity and automation are the keys to success for coating businesses in today’s rapidly-changing technical textiles industry, explained Jürgen Hanel, Monforts Head of Technical Textiles, at the recent 1st World Congress on Textile Coating.

Introducing the latest Montex®Coat magnetic roller coating option to virtual delegates from around the world at the conference organised by International Newsletters, Hanel explained why this technology makes perfect sense now

“The magnetic roller system allows a wide range of coatings and finishes to be carried out, while being easy to handle for operators and much easier to clean at the end of the process,” he said. “It provides textile finishers with an expanded range of options due to the fully-adjustable positioning of the magnet within the roller and with four different magnet positions possible, can be set to operate both as a direct coating system and as an indirect coater.”

With traditional dip coating systems, he added, as well as with many standard knife coating technologies, there is always a difference in the tension between the centre and the edges of the wide width fabrics being treated – and hence the amount of pressure with which the coating is applied. With the use of a magnetic roller, equal pressure is applied across the full width of the fabric, with consistent results even at wide widths of over 2.4 metres. In addition, adjusting the roller surface, rather than changing the coating formulation to match the required add-on and viscosity for each coating effect required, leads to much higher output from the line.

Cleaner and less wasteful
The contribution of such flexible and resource-saving new technologies to a cleaner and less wasteful textile industry was a key theme at the congress – held virtually across the four afternoons of February 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th – as was digitalization and the many advantages it is providing.

“A typical integrated Monforts coating line is automated from the inlet feed to the winder,” Hanel told delegates. “Adjustments can also be made simply and easily from the touchscreen and with the new hand-held remote controller which has recently been introduced for the Montex®Coat unit.”

Manual adjustment, he added, is time consuming and needs the attention of an experienced operator or the reproducibility will not be accurate between coating operations. The adjustment by motors allows each coating to be stored and downloaded again for 100% reproducibility.

The motors can be fully controlled from the touchscreen and all necessary adjustments carried out remotely, making switching from one process to another extremely quick and easy.
The accuracy that is now being demanded by today’s most exacting customers is met with an optional carbon fibre roller – especially in dealing with the winding tension required in the processing of materials such as prepregs for composites and other heavyweight fabrics. Typical applications for the Montex®Coat include the finishing of tents and awnings, black-out roller blinds and sail cloth, automotive interior fabrics and medical disposables. Full PVC coatings, pigment dyeing or minimal application surface and low penetration treatments can all be accommodated.

“The World Congress on Textile Coating was characterised by some very stimulating presentations and forums between the speakers and a global audience of textile specialists,” Jürgen Hanel concluded. “It truly reflected the high level of positive changes now taking place in not just textile coating, but the entire textile industry. I look forward to the next edition, which hopefully will be a face-to-face event for even deeper level discussions and debate.”

MaruHachi/AMAC: High-temperature thermoplastic tapes and laminates (c) MaruHachi
16.02.2021

MaruHachi/AMAC: High-temperature thermoplastic tapes and laminates

With their recently installed high-temperature unidirectional tape line, Japan-based composites manufacturer MaruHachi enables new opportunities for high-end applications in demanding market segments like aerospace, automotive or others outperforming traditional materials based on PP and PA which are already widely available.

In the first phase, MaruHachi will produce up to 40 tons/year and focuses now specifically on high-temperature thermoplastic uni-directional (UD) tapes and multi-layer sheet laminates. The material is based on high-performance fibers like carbon, aramid, glass or natural fibers and the matrix can be high-performance polymers like PPS, PEEK or other higher temperature polymers, which are much tougher than epoxies and easy to recycle. With a width of 500 mm, a specific weight from 60 to 350 g/m2, depending on the chosen material, the lines can operate under temperatures up to 420 degrees Celsius. Working under these extremely high temperatures allows for better material properties of the final application, higher performance, increased resistance and integrated high-performance functionalities e.g. by overmoulding.

With their recently installed high-temperature unidirectional tape line, Japan-based composites manufacturer MaruHachi enables new opportunities for high-end applications in demanding market segments like aerospace, automotive or others outperforming traditional materials based on PP and PA which are already widely available.

In the first phase, MaruHachi will produce up to 40 tons/year and focuses now specifically on high-temperature thermoplastic uni-directional (UD) tapes and multi-layer sheet laminates. The material is based on high-performance fibers like carbon, aramid, glass or natural fibers and the matrix can be high-performance polymers like PPS, PEEK or other higher temperature polymers, which are much tougher than epoxies and easy to recycle. With a width of 500 mm, a specific weight from 60 to 350 g/m2, depending on the chosen material, the lines can operate under temperatures up to 420 degrees Celsius. Working under these extremely high temperatures allows for better material properties of the final application, higher performance, increased resistance and integrated high-performance functionalities e.g. by overmoulding.

Since 2017, MaruHachi Group is active in the European market in cooperation with Dr. Michael Effing,the CEO of AMAC GmbH, who advises and supports the company strategically. The established, family-owned MaruHachi Group has a strong history in automotive and medical textiles and has been active in the innovative composites market for more than 15 years.

Toshi Sugahara, CEO of MaruHachi: “For many years, we have already been cooperating with domestic and international partners on high-demand applications and therefore, MaruHachi decided now to invest over 1 million EUR in this new line in phase 1, including a funding participation from the Japanese government NEDO. New developments in phase 2 will be be undertaken by end of 2021 on the downstream technologies like the automated preforming and consolidation. With our new products, we want to contribute to significant weight reductions of the final products, thus improve energy efficiency while offering a cost-efficient and high-quality solution.”

Dr. Effing, CEO of AMAC GmbH confirms: „The focus on the niche of high-temperature products based on PPS and PEEK allows MaruHachi on very demanding high-end applications such as structural frames on space and aircrafts, aircraft seats or engine components etc. The tapes are fully recyclable and can be processed e.g. with high-speed with laser-based tape placement machines and robots.”

Source:

AMAC GmbH

JEC Summit Sports & Health - Connect exceeds goals and sets new standards for JEC digital events
JEC Summit Sports & Health - Connect
15.12.2020

JEC Summit Sports & Health - Connect exceeds goals and sets new standards for JEC digital events

First edition of JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect, an online event platform devoted to medical and sports equipment manufacturers using composites, ended last week going above and beyond its set goals. JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect brought together professionals from the whole composites value chain and allows decision-makers to evolve and inspire through a subsequent event program. This summit was the first in a long line of events devoted to composites in the Sports and Health industry that are to come within the next two years.

The three-day event was conceived as a forum to gather composites professionals, affiliates, and high-profile speakers to share their expertise in composites materials involved in creating state-of-the-art medical devices and sports equipment.

First edition of JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect, an online event platform devoted to medical and sports equipment manufacturers using composites, ended last week going above and beyond its set goals. JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect brought together professionals from the whole composites value chain and allows decision-makers to evolve and inspire through a subsequent event program. This summit was the first in a long line of events devoted to composites in the Sports and Health industry that are to come within the next two years.

The three-day event was conceived as a forum to gather composites professionals, affiliates, and high-profile speakers to share their expertise in composites materials involved in creating state-of-the-art medical devices and sports equipment.

“Following the enforced postponement of many trade shows, we took the step of becoming the first organizer to stage an online event dedicated to composites in the sports and health industry. We put together a high-level conference agenda and speaker roster, and devised some great ideas for virtual networking, said Christian Strassburger, Event Director at JEC Group. “I could not be prouder of what we achieved with many delegates from Europe and Americas tuning in, including representatives from more than 36 countries. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors and partners. Their trust, support, and input were a crucial part of both the quality and success of the summit.”

The event attracted an audience of more than 1,100 professionals from the composites industry, from 36 countries, and helped organize 216 pre-arranged one to one meetings between buyers and sellers via our dedicated online meeting rooms, this without mentioning informal networking between participants. It reached these numbers, as participants logged on in considerable numbers to learn from the insights and ideas of the unparalleled line-up of high-level speakers who took part in the summit’s twenty-track conference.

The agenda for the JEC Summit Sports & Health – Connect featured tracks on current trends and Innovations in sports & health composite applications, with keynotes delivered by Dominic LeBlanc Senior Concept Engineer, at Callaway Golf, Christophe Lecomte, Director of Biomechanical Solutions R&D, at Össur, Fleur Jong, Professional Sprinter, and Co-founder of the Para Athletics Foundation and Damiano Salvatori, Materials Research Engineer, at the Straumann Group.

The panel of high-profile experts from Europe and America offered perspectives and inspiration for the next generation of medical and sports devices made of composites materials. The line-up included Bjorn Ivar Austrem, Technical Director, at Madshus, Laurine Calistri, Research Engineer, at Proteor, Anatole Gilliot, CEO of Suprem, Julien Duplay, Composites Methods Engineer, at Decathlon, Eric Jackson, President of Apex Watercraft, Stéphan Vérin, General Secretary, at EuraMaterials, Maximilian Segl, Principal Expert Composites, and Johannes Wölper, Development Engineer, both from Ottobock, and Matthew Dickinson, Senior Lecturer in Engineering, at University of Central Lancashire. Christos Karatzias, at Mitsui Chemicals Europe and Anthony Bert, at Helicoid Industries.

And one cannot omit the international startups that pitched all through the three-day event: ProsFit (Bulgaria), Alchemy (Greece), moi composites (Italy), Mercuris (Germany), Arevo/Superstrata (USA), Checkerspot/WNDR Alpine (USA), Ambrocio (Finland) Nairoby (Argentina). All gave inspiring and promising perspectives in the sector and what to look for in the near future.

Source:

JEC Press Relations

14.12.2020

Hexcel and Safran Expand Scope of Existing Contract

Hexcel and Safran Expand Scope of Existing Contract for Advanced Composite Materials on Commercial Aerospace Programs

Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL) announced today that the scope of its long-term supplier contract with Safran S.A. has been expanded to include advanced composite materials for a broader range of commercial aerospace applications.

For more than three decades, Hexcel has been a trusted, leading supplier of high-performance, advanced composites such as carbon fiber, adhesives, prepregs, dry fabrics, and honeycomb core to Safran programs. Since 2013, Hexcel HexTow® IM7 carbon fiber has been supplied for the LEAP*-1A, -1B and -1C engine programs. That contract now has been amended to include HexTow IM7 for the GE9X engine that powers the Boeing 777X.The contract also includes Hexcel core, adhesives, prepregs, and fabrics for additional applications on engine nacelles and aircraft interiors.

Hexcel and Safran Expand Scope of Existing Contract for Advanced Composite Materials on Commercial Aerospace Programs

Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL) announced today that the scope of its long-term supplier contract with Safran S.A. has been expanded to include advanced composite materials for a broader range of commercial aerospace applications.

For more than three decades, Hexcel has been a trusted, leading supplier of high-performance, advanced composites such as carbon fiber, adhesives, prepregs, dry fabrics, and honeycomb core to Safran programs. Since 2013, Hexcel HexTow® IM7 carbon fiber has been supplied for the LEAP*-1A, -1B and -1C engine programs. That contract now has been amended to include HexTow IM7 for the GE9X engine that powers the Boeing 777X.The contract also includes Hexcel core, adhesives, prepregs, and fabrics for additional applications on engine nacelles and aircraft interiors.

“It was time to include Safran Cabin, Safran Seats and Safran Aerosystems within our global long-term agreement,” said Thierry Viguier, Vice President, Safran Materials Purchasing. “Hexcel has shown again, during this difficult period of time, that they are a strong and reliable long-term partner.”

“This contract expansion is the result of a successful, collaborative relationship between Safran and Hexcel that started more than 35 years ago to serve the aerospace industry,” said Thierry Merlot, President Aerospace Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Industrial. “This agreement will further strengthen the long-term partnership between our companies and reinforces our strategic position within Safran’s First Circle suppliers.”

Flax for Composites: Woven tapes made of natural fibres by vombaur (c) Elke Wetzig, Wikimedia
Lightweight, firm, sustainable: Flax tape by vombaur
02.12.2020

Flax for Composites: Woven tapes made of natural fibres by vombaur

Flax has accompanied people for thousands of years, in linen fabrics, in ropes, as insulation material. And until the present day. With woven tapes made of flax, vombaur makes the functional and ecological advantages of natural fibres available for lightweight design.

Lightweight and firm
Flax fibres are particularly rigid and tear-proof. Textiles made of the natural material therefore give natural fibre reinforced plastic (NFP) special stability. Additionally, flax has a low density. The components thus combine high rigidity and strength with low weight. Another functional plus: natural fibre reinforced plastics are less prone to splintering than glass fibre reinforced plastics.

Sustainable material
The cultivation of flax binds CO2 and the production of NFP generates 33 percent lower CO2 emissions than conventional fibre reinforced plastics. The energy consumption is 40 percent lower. This reduces production costs and improves the material's CO2 footprint. Punch-packing arguments for natural fibre tapes – like flax tape by vombaur – in lightweight design applications.

Flax has accompanied people for thousands of years, in linen fabrics, in ropes, as insulation material. And until the present day. With woven tapes made of flax, vombaur makes the functional and ecological advantages of natural fibres available for lightweight design.

Lightweight and firm
Flax fibres are particularly rigid and tear-proof. Textiles made of the natural material therefore give natural fibre reinforced plastic (NFP) special stability. Additionally, flax has a low density. The components thus combine high rigidity and strength with low weight. Another functional plus: natural fibre reinforced plastics are less prone to splintering than glass fibre reinforced plastics.

Sustainable material
The cultivation of flax binds CO2 and the production of NFP generates 33 percent lower CO2 emissions than conventional fibre reinforced plastics. The energy consumption is 40 percent lower. This reduces production costs and improves the material's CO2 footprint. Punch-packing arguments for natural fibre tapes – like flax tape by vombaur – in lightweight design applications.

Circular Economy
Circular Economy – this also works in lightweight design. The number of recycling cycles without loss of quality is higher for natural fibre reinforced plastics than for glass or carbon fibre reinforced plastics: the thermoplastic matrix of the composite can be melted and recycled after a product life cycle. The natural fibres can "live on" in other products – injection moulded products for example.

Versatile applications
"Composites from our flax tapes are used to reinforce high-tech skis as well as for extruding state-of-the-art window sections – the applications are countless," explains Tomislav Josipovic, Sales Manager with vombaur. "As a development partner, we support applications for the automotive, wind energy, construction, sports and many other industries with our composite textiles."

More information:
vombaur Naturfasern Composites
Source:

stotz-design.com