Composites

EcoPaXX is a green, bio-based, high-performance engineering plastic with excellent mechanical properties. It is based on polyamide 410, a long-chain polyamide with properties such as low moisture absorption, high melting point, and high crystallization rate.

The Ultimate Kayak from Legacy Paddlesports is the first commercial application to feature formed, large, three-dimensional parts made from Tegris fabric.

The fiber-reinforced-thermoplastic composite air tank is designed for use in over-the-road Class 8 trucks and trailers.

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.

OnColor WPC color and additive concentrates for wood-plastic composites provide good color distribution and can be used in extrusion and injection molding.

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.

PolyLube and PolySlide composite products reduce friction and weight in pneumatic and low-pressure hydraulic applications.

Custom carbon fiber can weigh as little as one-fifth that of their steel counterparts.

NanoTool is the third generation of Somos ProtoComposite for rapid prototyping.

Recent additions to FEA software make it easier to find stresses and strains in composites.

AcoustiMax substrate, a new lightweight glass-mat composite for vehicle interiors, reportedly provides improved structural and acoustical properties in applications such as headliners, trunk liners, door modules, seat backs, and package trays.

Vectra Bs are 30% glass-fiber-reinforced polymer rods for mechanical and electronic components and for replacing stainless steel in medical applications.

Ansys 10.0 solver technology and FiberSIM 3.5 software (and higher) work together to let analysts access and verify CAD master models of parts made from composite materials.