NEWS
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Composites Division News
The SPE Composites Division publishes a newsletter for its members 3x/year. To view a recent issue of this newsletter, please click on the links below to open a PDF file.
- November 2011
- August 2011
- March 2011
- November 2010
- August 2010
- March 2010
- November 2009
- August 2009
- March 2009
- November 2008
Composites Articles in the News
By special arrangement with Composites Technology and High-Performance Composites magazines and CompositesWorld.com, following are in-depth case history articles on innovative new composites technologies in a wide range of industries.
Composites in Infrastructure
Bridge Cost Cut with Inflatable Arches
Stay-in-place composite formwork shortens installation, doubles service life of concrete bridge structure. Originally published in the April 2009 issue of Composites Technology Magazine. To read more, please click HERE.
New Bridge Deck Bests Early FRP Systems
Mechanically fastened, two-piece composite deck system addresses challenges inherent in previous fiber-reinforced polymer deck designs, lowering cost, speeding installation and reducing maintenance. Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Composites Technology Magazine. To read more, please click HERE.
Composites in Construction
Tooling Method Replicates Intricate Woodgrain in Fiberglass Doors
A
toolmaker becomes molder to offer the beauty of natural wood and the
durability and weatherability of composites to residential entry door
OEMs. Originally published in
the August 2007 edition of Composites Technology magazine. To read
more,
please click HERE.
Composites in Automotive
ECO Elise Concept: Lean, Speedy & Green
Focus on use of sustainable materials and cleaner manufacturing processes promises future Lotus customers “almost-guilt-free” performance. Originally published in the August 2009 issue of Composites Technology Magazine. To read more, please click HERE.
Composite Wing Key to High-Speed Stability
First mass-produced CFRP wing helps supercar achieve downforce and lateral acceleration values superior to many GT racing cars. Originally published in the August 2009 issue of High-Performance Composites Magazine. To read more, please click HERE.
Composites in Commercial Truck
TPC-Tough: Sustainable TransportA consortium of mostly European companies recently completed the Cleanmould program, a three-year effort to design and produce a composite semitruck trailer. Their goal was to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics of the semitrailer bed without sacrificing stiffness, strength or fatigue properties. They achieved this by using thermoplastic prepreg produced from cyclic PBT oligomer and vacuum-bag processing to produce a Class 8 tri-axle semitrailer in three large sections. Originally published in the June 2011 edition of Composites Technology magazine. To read more, please click HERE.
Composites in Wind Energy
Small Wind: Green Energy Gets GreenerKilowatt-rated vertical-axis wind turbines, featuring recycled and recyclable thermoplastic sandwich panel composite sails, supply green electric power where utility-scale turbines can't. Originally published in the April 2011 edition of Composites Technology magazine. To read more, please click HERE.