- Email: [email protected]
Greater use of composites
EDITORIAL www.reinforcedplastics.com Volume 58 Issue 1
Editorial Mark Holmes, Managing Editor Tel: +44-(0)1865-843441 E-mail: [email protected] Amanda Jacob, Content Development Editor Tel: +44-(0)1865-843638 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising North America Dan Fetzner Tel: +1-212-268-3344 E-mail: [email protected] Europe (excluding Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Benelux) and rest of world Stuart Payne Tel: +44-(0)1932-564999 E-mail: [email protected] Germany, Switzerland and Austria Christian Hölscher Tel: +49-(0)89-95002778 E-mail: [email protected] Benelux Rodric Leerling Tel: +31-229-841882 E-mail: [email protected] Production Lin Lucas, Production Support Manager Sisse Fitzgerald, Advertising Copy Controller Tel: +44-(0)1865-843808 Fax: +44-(0)1865-853159 E-mail: [email protected] Circulation Caroline Champney, Marketing Manager Tel: +44-(0)1865-843190 E-mail: [email protected] Publisher David Hopwood E-mail: [email protected] Address Elsevier Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK Fax: +44-(0)1865-843973 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.reinforcedplastics.com Annual Subscription and Payments An annual subscription to Reinforced Plastics includes 6 printed issues and costs: €455 for all European countries & Iran; US$512 for all countries except Europe and Japan; ¥60.700 for Japan. Customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, OX5 1GB, UK Tel: (+44)-(0)1865-843434 Fax: (+44)-(0)1865-843970 E-mail: [email protected] Customers in Asia and Australasia: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, 3 Killiney Road, # 08-01 Winsland House, Singapore 239519 Tel: (+65)-6349-0222 Fax: (+65)-6733-1510 E-mail: [email protected]
Greater use of composites New and exciting applications for composites emerge all the time. Sometimes these are completely new areas for the use of reinforced plastics, while on other occasions they can be more extensive ways in which the materials can be employed in existing applications. This is the case in our cover feature article in this issue. Composites have been playing a major role in wind turbine blades for some time. However, as George Marsh reports on pages 20-24 the versatility and properties of composites are encouraging the wind energy sector to look at new ways of using reinforced plastics. This includes increased use of composites in traditional wind turbines in areas where they have not yet been fully utilised, such as towers, foundations and transition pieces that hold the turbines in place. In addition, as turbines are getting taller and located in ever more inaccessible places and ever deeper offshore waters, it is getting necessary to look at the materials used for the supporting infrastructure that is becoming too bulky and heavy to transport and erect. Construction is another area where composites continue to make major inroads. Starting on page 34, we highlight another interesting bridge project where the use of fibre reinforced composites has assisted the designers meet some specific local needs for a harbour bridge. Manhole and trench covers have traditionally been made out of steel, cast iron or concrete in the construction industry. However, composites are now replacing them because of the need to control corrosion and reduce weight for safer handling. Turn to page 30 for this feature. The vacuum infusion process is becoming increasingly employed in the composites industry, in particular the wind energy and marine markets. Starting on page 25, we feature An introduction to resin infusion in which Trevor Osborne explains the basics. We also highlight how glass reinforced epoxy composite liners are solving the difficult and expensive problem of pipeline corrosion in the oil and gas industry. Finally, we have our annual round-up of some of the major mergers and acquisitions to take place in the global composites industry in 2013.
Customers in the United States & Canada: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, 3251 Riverport Lane, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA Tel: (+1)-314-447-8878 Toll: (+1)-877-839-7126 Fax: (+1)-314-447-8077 E-mail: [email protected] Customers in Japan: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, Higashi Azabu, Bldg. 4F, 1-9-15 HigashiAzabu, Minatu-Ku, Tokyo 106-0044, Japan Tel: (+81)-3-55615037 Fax: (+81)-3-55615047 E-mail: [email protected] Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd, Kent, UK. 02104 A member of the Reed Elsevier plc group Reinforced Plastics (ISSN 0034-3617) is published bi-monthly by Elsevier Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK. PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid at Rahway, NJ, USA. POSTMASTER: please send address corrections to Reinforced Plastics, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001.
Mark Holmes Managing Editor
Reinforced Plastics and the environment The paper used in Reinforced Plastics is Apollo Gloss. This is manufactured from ECF pulp, which is produced from renewable forest resources and bleached without using elemental chlorine. The varnish on our covers is water-based. We also encourage our readers to switch to receiving the digital edition of the magazine to reduce use of paper. Reed Elsevier is committed to reducing its environmental impact, whenever possible, by limiting resource use and by efficiently employing sustainable materials and technologies. The group’s environmental policy and objectives are available at www.reedelsevier.com.
Reinforced Plastics is the media partner of COMPOSITES EUROPE and the European Composites Industry Association.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
REINFORCEDplastics
3
Editorial Mark Holmes, Managing Editor Tel: +44-(0)1865-843441 E-mail: [email protected] Amanda Jacob, Content Development Editor Tel: +44-(0)1865-843638 E-mail: [email protected] Advertising North America Dan Fetzner Tel: +1-212-268-3344 E-mail: [email protected] Europe (excluding Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Benelux) and rest of world Stuart Payne Tel: +44-(0)1932-564999 E-mail: [email protected] Germany, Switzerland and Austria Christian Hölscher Tel: +49-(0)89-95002778 E-mail: [email protected] Benelux Rodric Leerling Tel: +31-229-841882 E-mail: [email protected] Production Lin Lucas, Production Support Manager Sisse Fitzgerald, Advertising Copy Controller Tel: +44-(0)1865-843808 Fax: +44-(0)1865-853159 E-mail: [email protected] Circulation Caroline Champney, Marketing Manager Tel: +44-(0)1865-843190 E-mail: [email protected] Publisher David Hopwood E-mail: [email protected] Address Elsevier Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK Fax: +44-(0)1865-843973 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.reinforcedplastics.com Annual Subscription and Payments An annual subscription to Reinforced Plastics includes 6 printed issues and costs: €455 for all European countries & Iran; US$512 for all countries except Europe and Japan; ¥60.700 for Japan. Customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, OX5 1GB, UK Tel: (+44)-(0)1865-843434 Fax: (+44)-(0)1865-843970 E-mail: [email protected] Customers in Asia and Australasia: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, 3 Killiney Road, # 08-01 Winsland House, Singapore 239519 Tel: (+65)-6349-0222 Fax: (+65)-6733-1510 E-mail: [email protected]
Greater use of composites New and exciting applications for composites emerge all the time. Sometimes these are completely new areas for the use of reinforced plastics, while on other occasions they can be more extensive ways in which the materials can be employed in existing applications. This is the case in our cover feature article in this issue. Composites have been playing a major role in wind turbine blades for some time. However, as George Marsh reports on pages 20-24 the versatility and properties of composites are encouraging the wind energy sector to look at new ways of using reinforced plastics. This includes increased use of composites in traditional wind turbines in areas where they have not yet been fully utilised, such as towers, foundations and transition pieces that hold the turbines in place. In addition, as turbines are getting taller and located in ever more inaccessible places and ever deeper offshore waters, it is getting necessary to look at the materials used for the supporting infrastructure that is becoming too bulky and heavy to transport and erect. Construction is another area where composites continue to make major inroads. Starting on page 34, we highlight another interesting bridge project where the use of fibre reinforced composites has assisted the designers meet some specific local needs for a harbour bridge. Manhole and trench covers have traditionally been made out of steel, cast iron or concrete in the construction industry. However, composites are now replacing them because of the need to control corrosion and reduce weight for safer handling. Turn to page 30 for this feature. The vacuum infusion process is becoming increasingly employed in the composites industry, in particular the wind energy and marine markets. Starting on page 25, we feature An introduction to resin infusion in which Trevor Osborne explains the basics. We also highlight how glass reinforced epoxy composite liners are solving the difficult and expensive problem of pipeline corrosion in the oil and gas industry. Finally, we have our annual round-up of some of the major mergers and acquisitions to take place in the global composites industry in 2013.
Customers in the United States & Canada: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, 3251 Riverport Lane, Maryland Heights, MO 63043, USA Tel: (+1)-314-447-8878 Toll: (+1)-877-839-7126 Fax: (+1)-314-447-8077 E-mail: [email protected] Customers in Japan: Elsevier Journals Customer Service & Fulfilment Department, Higashi Azabu, Bldg. 4F, 1-9-15 HigashiAzabu, Minatu-Ku, Tokyo 106-0044, Japan Tel: (+81)-3-55615037 Fax: (+81)-3-55615047 E-mail: [email protected] Printed by Headley Brothers Ltd, Kent, UK. 02104 A member of the Reed Elsevier plc group Reinforced Plastics (ISSN 0034-3617) is published bi-monthly by Elsevier Ltd, The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, UK. PERIODICALS POSTAGE paid at Rahway, NJ, USA. POSTMASTER: please send address corrections to Reinforced Plastics, 365 Blair Road, Avenel, NJ 07001.
Mark Holmes Managing Editor
Reinforced Plastics and the environment The paper used in Reinforced Plastics is Apollo Gloss. This is manufactured from ECF pulp, which is produced from renewable forest resources and bleached without using elemental chlorine. The varnish on our covers is water-based. We also encourage our readers to switch to receiving the digital edition of the magazine to reduce use of paper. Reed Elsevier is committed to reducing its environmental impact, whenever possible, by limiting resource use and by efficiently employing sustainable materials and technologies. The group’s environmental policy and objectives are available at www.reedelsevier.com.
Reinforced Plastics is the media partner of COMPOSITES EUROPE and the European Composites Industry Association.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
REINFORCEDplastics
3