New Composite Research Center for medical Products... Perhaps

Scientists in Wichita, KS applied for $15 million dollars of stimulus money to create a research center to help integrate composite materials into medical and orthopedic products. The city of Wichita has already donated 43 acres of land worth $1.2 million, and are hoping to build a 50,000 sqft building next to the current National Center for Aviation Training.

Much of the new composite aerospace materials, especally FDA approved thermoplastic resins, have a bright future for use in orthopedics. For example, if you look closely at the x-ray above, you can spot a metal bone screw holding together a fracture. If that orthopedic insert could be composite, it would not appear on the x-ray, and the doctor could more easily determine the healing of the injury. Other advantages of composite medical inserts include higher lubricity (less pain/discomfort) and less risk of allergies (a surprisingly large population is allergic to nickle).

With the nearby National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR), a leading composite material research institute, there is ample space for sharing of ideas and technology.

More info:

The Wichita Eagle

Aerospace Composites


Photo Credit: joebeone via flicker

Composite Armor Manufacturing

Here is an interesting article about a North Dakota armor/material/composite company, Sioux Manufacturing Corp. They are recovering from a recent law suit, and pushing forward to try and supply the government with armor and ballistic composite products.

The company is said to have a 250 sqft manufacturing facility, employ 190-210 people, and have revenues between $25 and $40m.

Interesting enough, I recently stumbled on this new government award to supply 86 ballistic spall liners for a unit cost of $795.01, for a contract value at $68,370.86...

Photo credit: Army.mil via flicker

Pultruded Composite Scaffolding

Making scaffolding out of composite materials seems like it should be an obvious decision. Planks would be lightweight, non-conductive, strong, durable, not absorb moisture, and never rot. Although the concept seems like a no-brainer, it has taken time to make inroads.

Wood, steel, and aluminum, the traditional saffolding planks are inexpensive, familar, and proven. For someone to try and enter this market, trying to convince construction companies to switch to a more expensive product, especally in this construction enviroment, would be a serious challenge. Not to mention the hurdel in code certification and the ever present liability risk of someone getting injured using a plank.

This is why my hat goes off to Tim Bothwell, who I have recently learned from this article, that he has been spending many years developing and selling a pultruded composite scaffolding system. His company, Bothwell Composite Plank System, is said to have made 10,000 planks in the last 3 years. Part of his success has been the targeting of niche power generation and offshore oil markets.

It seems Bothwell has partnered with Top Glass out of Italy, which was recently acquired by Kemrock Industries out of India.

Photo credit: kevindooly via flicker

Car Companies Looking at Lightweight Composites... Thermoplastics?

This recent Plastics news article (read it here), discusses how the major auto manufacturers are researching advanced composite materials. In an attempt to stay with the times, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation is investigating new materials being researched at universities, government laboratories, and R&D companies. It was also noted,

"Michigan is not alone in investing in lightweight materials: Toyota Motor Corp. of Toyota City, Japan, is “progressing” in its research into using thermoplastic composites in structural parts, said Justin Ward, advanced powertrain program manager at the Toyota Technical Center in Gardena, Calif. The center is part of the research and development division of Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc., Toyota’s U.S. subsidiary based in Erlanger, Ky."

Weight savings (fuel efficiency) will continue the push towards the increased use of composite materials in transportation. For car manufacturers, composites processing has traditionally been seen as a new and big investment in tooling and equipment. Material costs, surface finish, end of life recyclability, and other issues must all be solved prior to acceptance.

Thermoplastic composites will be a natural candidate with the ability to post mold, ability for automotive quality surface finish, impact resistance, and recyclable features. European car manufacturers are already playing around with continuous fiber thermoplastic components, as I believe the new BMW M series bumpers are manufactured with a carbon reinforced thermoplastic bumper. (will look into this further)

Photo Credit: WilVision Photography via flicker

U. Maine's Composite Bridge Technology

The University of Maine's AEWC Advanced Composites Center has been know to do some exciting things. Back in February of this year, they announced they were spinning off a company for a composites technology called, "Bridge in a Backpack." Not entirely sure how it works, but it seems they are using hollow tubes and inflating a sort of bladder, curing in place, and later filling with concrete, thus making a structural bridge. Time savings and shipping/logistics savings are a likely draw. Read some more info here.

This new company called, "Advanced Infrastructure Technologies," is planning to build bridges for the Maine Department of Transportation, and it seems the U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is giving them a visit this week. Read the announcement here.

Photo Credit (not a composite bridge): Big D2112 via flicker