Investing In Composite Materials

Investing in composite materials is likely a good idea, it seems that their is a daily news report about a product utilizing composites or carbon fiber. The truth is, more and more products are integrating composite materials because they are higher performing. Additionally, as the composites industry further matures, manufacturing costs should continue to decrease.

The fact of the matter is, the composite material industry is a growth sector.

Annual Global Sales of Composite Materials:

2011 - $16.1 billion
2015 estimated - $28.2 billion
2020 estimated - $48.7 billion
(Source: Materials Technology Publications)

Part of the reasoning behind the success and predicted growth of the composite material industry, is the fast integration into almost every single major industrial sector. Think about all the industries that have adopted composites:

• Aerospace
• Defense
• Space
• Mass transit
• Heavy trucking
• Sports and leisure
• Oil and gas
• Marine

All it will take is GM, Ford, or Toyota to adopt composites and suddenly automotive is on this list. So the question is, how can one take part in the potential upside of composites? Well, there are publicly traded companies which are entrenched in composites, here are a few:

• Hexcel Corporation (NYSE: HXL)
• Cytec Industries Inc. (NYSE: CYT)
• Toray Industries Inc. (TYO: 3402)
• 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM)
• Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW)
• Zoltek Companies Inc. (NASDAQ: ZOLT)
• SGL Group (PINK: SGLFF)
• Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd. (TYO: 5302)

Related Posts:

Critical National Need: Advanced Composites Manufacturing ...

Best Composite Material Salesman: Your Senator - Composite ...

Car Companies Looking at Lightweight Composites ...

Photo Credit: Titanium22 via Flickr (Creative Commons)

The Composites Blog Is Back

It is time to fire up the composite material blog again. That's right, after two years of slumber the blog will be back up with the FRP musings.

Stay tuned!!!

Composite Material Blog Has Moved!

Hello all, the composite material blog has moved. I am now writing for About.com, part of The New York Times.

Please continue to follow me and the composites industry at About Composites

Thanks!

Carbon Fiber Technology Center - Oak Ridge National Laboratory

In order for the full utilization of carbon fiber in automotive applications. (Which is necessary to lower weight.) The cost of raw carbon fiber needs to decrease. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is taking on this challenge using $34.7 million in DOE ARPA funding; they are establishing a Carbon Fiber Technology Center. According to their website:

The center will be capable of producing up to 80 tons per year of low-cost carbon fiber for evaluation and use by industry and government partners. Primary equipment will include a thermal (conventional) carbon fiber conversion line and a melt-spun precursor fiber production line. Space and utility provisions are planned to add an advanced technology conversion line.

The overall goal of this technology center is to lower the cost of carbon fiber 50%. This could be a major breakthrough not only to the automotive industry in gaining better fuel efficiency, but many other applications of carbon fiber where high-strength and lightweight is crucial.

Photo Credit: ORNL

Related Posts:

Composite Material: Carbon Fiber Composite Running Legs

Composite Material: Carbon Fiber UAV

Composite Material: Boron Fiber - Superior to Carbon

Can I sell carbon fiber without an export license? - Composite ...

Composite Material: Carbon Fiber Roller Skates

Cutting Kevlar with a Waterjet

Cutting Kevlar or any aramid fiber is no easy task. It's tenacity wears our tools and blades, while cuts are often frayed. Probably the best method for cutting laminated aramid fiber, is using a waterjet (as seen above). Although not cheap, these cuts are CNC controlled, so very accurate, and the cut edges are clean and burr free...

Related Posts:

Spider Web Composite Armor - Biomimicry - Composite Material Blog
Composite Material Information: Thermoplastic Composites vs ...