Think carbon-reinforcedepoxy composites are strictly for aerospace and sporting goods? These materials are surprisingly versatile and can solve a variety of weight and structural problems.
The composites mold to complex geometries using standard molding processes and permit part consolidation with little finishing and few secondary operations.
The Ultimate Kayak from Legacy Paddlesports is the first commercial application to feature formed, large, three-dimensional parts made from Tegris fabric.
TPI Composites Inc. (TPI), Warren, R.I., and representatives from Oshkosh Truck Corp., Oshkosh, Wis., unveiled a new light-weight, all-composite truck cab for the U.S. Army's tactical wheeled vehicle fleet.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Akron, Ohio, is using carbon-fiber reinforcement to add stiffness across the width of their continuously variable transmission or CVT belts.
Aluminum Silicon Carbide metal-matrix composite (AlSiC) from CPS Corp., Chartley Ma., features a tailor-it-yourself coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).
V8 Fadec diesel runs on jet fuel (kerosene) or diesel fuel. The TT62 Alekto from High Performance Aircraft GmbH — made from composite fibers and boasting the latest in avionic and engine technology — recently made its maiden flight.
Engineering students at Brigham Young University designed the Y-Flex exercise machine to use bendable fiberglass poles and guides instead of free weights.
Modular track systems for offroad vehicles experience enormous loads, both from the weight of the equipment itself as well as from the shocks of inhospitable terrain.
Front and rear racks on the Sportsman 700 Twin all-terrain vehicle (ATV) from Polaris Industries Inc., must carry heavy loads at temperatures down to -25°F.
