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Zyvex Technologies and NanoFabrix partner on EMI shielding composites
BUSINESS Joint venture manufactures composite panels for Europe ATL COMPOSITES of Australia and MuH von der Linden of Germany have formed a joint venture company called vdL Composites to produce DuFLEX® composite panels for the European market. Developed by ATL Composites, DuFLEX panels are manufactured from a choice of core materials, laminated with a specially formulated epoxy resin and reinforced with multiaxial E-glass or carbon fibre. The panels have been widely used in the construction of leisure and commercial boats in Australia for hull shells, decks, superstructures and bulkheads for one-off construction, prototypes and running plugs, and they can also be used to extend hulls or modify superstructures of existing boats. vdL Composites will manufacture DuFLEX panels at von der Linden’s site in Wesel, Germany, using the same production techniques used by ATL in Australia. The new factory will produce standard panels, as well as CNC routed components and complete boat kits. As well as boat construction, the joint venture company will also be targeting transportation and architectural applications for the product. “The product has been well accepted, however, the lead time to supply from Australia and the high cost of shipping have been limiting factors to its overall potential,” says Lorraine Murray, a director of ATL. “We aim to address these issues through the establishment of the joint venture to manufacture in Germany.” vdL Composites; www.vdlcomposites.de
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REINFORCEDplastics
Zyvex Technologies and NanoFabrix partner on EMI shielding composites ZYVEX TECHNOLOGIES, a developer of nano-engineered materials, and NanoFabrix, a maker of nanotechnology-based surface films, have announced a partnership to jointly develop carbon nanotube-enhanced composite materials to improve the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of composite materials. The companies will initially target the aerospace market. NanoFabrix™ films are made from commercially available nano and microparticles with excellent abrasion, erosion and conductive properties. When used as a surface ply in a composite material, NanoFabrix provides protects the surface
from corrosion, abrasion, erosion, EMI, electrostatic discharge (ESD) and other conductivitydependent properties. It can be moulded onto a composite material surface by means of vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM), prepregging or compression moulding.
“This unique process allows for the creation of both stronger materials and the opportunity to take advantage of the inherent electrical properties of carbon nanotubes in ways that were previously impossible,” claims Andy Dickson, CEO of NanoFabrix.
In the aerospace industry, in addition to EMI shielding, specifically in cockpit electronics, NanoFabrix films are currently being evaluated for anti-icing and de-icing of the lift surfaces and protection against solid-particle erosion and wear of the turbojet turbine blades.
The partnership between NanoFabrix, of Columbus, Ohio, USA, and Zyvex Technologies, also headquartered in Columbus, is expected to result in multiple new products.
Zyvex Technologies’ Kentera™ technology creates chemical bonds on carbon nanotubes.
NanoFabrix; www.nanofabrix.com Zyvex Technologies; www.zyvextech.com
In brief Michelman, a manufacturer of polymeric dispersions and emulsions used as fibre sizing and lubricants in the production of composite materials, has joined the National Composites Center in Kettering, Ohio, USA, to augment its fibres and composites development team with research, testing and collaboration capabilities. Ticona’s Fortron Industries plant in Wilmington, North Carolina, has set a new production record for Fortron® polyphenylene sulphide (PPS). Composites based on Fortron PPS are being used for numerous applications in aircraft construction. Fortron Industries, a joint venture between Ticona and Kureha Corp, has ramped-up production and added new staff at its Wilmington plant, which has a nameplate capacity of 15 000 tonnes per year, to meet worldwide demand for Fortron PPS. Vestas has scrapped plans for a wind turbine factory in the Port of
JULY/AUGUST 2012
Sheerness in the UK. The company acquired the rights to the land in Kent a year ago, with the intention of building its new V164 7 MW offshore wind turbine there. A spokesman for the Danish company told news wires that the decision was taken due to a lack of orders. Vestas will manufacture and test the first components for the V164 7 MW turbine at its existing facility on the Isle of Wight, UK, with installation of first prototype expected in 2014 in Denmark. Serial production of the turbine will not start until Vestas has firm orders from customers. Airbus is establishing its first US production facility. Located at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama, it will assemble A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Construction of the assembly line will begin in 2013. Aircraft assembly is planned to start in 2015, with first deliveries from the Mobile facility beginning in 2016. Airbus anticipates the facility will produce
40-50 aircraft per year by 2018 and should create up to 1000 new jobs. The Russian Union of Composites Manufacturers (UNCM) has joined the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) as an Associated Member. The UNCM has worked to consolidate and develop the composites industry in Russia since 2004. The consumption of composite materials by the Indian wind energy industry will reach 200 million lbs by 2017, according to a study by Composite Insights (Opportunities for Composites in Indian Wind Energy Industry – 2012-2017: Trend, Forecast and Opportunity Analysis). In 2011, India was the third largest wind market in the world, with over 3200 MW capacity added. Composite Insights, based in Hyderabad, India, estimates that India will continue to add new wind capacity of 3000-6000 MW annually through to 2017.
www.reinforcedplastics.com
12
REINFORCEDplastics
Zyvex Technologies and NanoFabrix partner on EMI shielding composites ZYVEX TECHNOLOGIES, a developer of nano-engineered materials, and NanoFabrix, a maker of nanotechnology-based surface films, have announced a partnership to jointly develop carbon nanotube-enhanced composite materials to improve the electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness of composite materials. The companies will initially target the aerospace market. NanoFabrix™ films are made from commercially available nano and microparticles with excellent abrasion, erosion and conductive properties. When used as a surface ply in a composite material, NanoFabrix provides protects the surface
from corrosion, abrasion, erosion, EMI, electrostatic discharge (ESD) and other conductivitydependent properties. It can be moulded onto a composite material surface by means of vacuum assisted resin transfer moulding (VARTM), prepregging or compression moulding.
“This unique process allows for the creation of both stronger materials and the opportunity to take advantage of the inherent electrical properties of carbon nanotubes in ways that were previously impossible,” claims Andy Dickson, CEO of NanoFabrix.
In the aerospace industry, in addition to EMI shielding, specifically in cockpit electronics, NanoFabrix films are currently being evaluated for anti-icing and de-icing of the lift surfaces and protection against solid-particle erosion and wear of the turbojet turbine blades.
The partnership between NanoFabrix, of Columbus, Ohio, USA, and Zyvex Technologies, also headquartered in Columbus, is expected to result in multiple new products.
Zyvex Technologies’ Kentera™ technology creates chemical bonds on carbon nanotubes.
NanoFabrix; www.nanofabrix.com Zyvex Technologies; www.zyvextech.com
In brief Michelman, a manufacturer of polymeric dispersions and emulsions used as fibre sizing and lubricants in the production of composite materials, has joined the National Composites Center in Kettering, Ohio, USA, to augment its fibres and composites development team with research, testing and collaboration capabilities. Ticona’s Fortron Industries plant in Wilmington, North Carolina, has set a new production record for Fortron® polyphenylene sulphide (PPS). Composites based on Fortron PPS are being used for numerous applications in aircraft construction. Fortron Industries, a joint venture between Ticona and Kureha Corp, has ramped-up production and added new staff at its Wilmington plant, which has a nameplate capacity of 15 000 tonnes per year, to meet worldwide demand for Fortron PPS. Vestas has scrapped plans for a wind turbine factory in the Port of
JULY/AUGUST 2012
Sheerness in the UK. The company acquired the rights to the land in Kent a year ago, with the intention of building its new V164 7 MW offshore wind turbine there. A spokesman for the Danish company told news wires that the decision was taken due to a lack of orders. Vestas will manufacture and test the first components for the V164 7 MW turbine at its existing facility on the Isle of Wight, UK, with installation of first prototype expected in 2014 in Denmark. Serial production of the turbine will not start until Vestas has firm orders from customers. Airbus is establishing its first US production facility. Located at the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile, Alabama, it will assemble A319, A320 and A321 aircraft. Construction of the assembly line will begin in 2013. Aircraft assembly is planned to start in 2015, with first deliveries from the Mobile facility beginning in 2016. Airbus anticipates the facility will produce
40-50 aircraft per year by 2018 and should create up to 1000 new jobs. The Russian Union of Composites Manufacturers (UNCM) has joined the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) as an Associated Member. The UNCM has worked to consolidate and develop the composites industry in Russia since 2004. The consumption of composite materials by the Indian wind energy industry will reach 200 million lbs by 2017, according to a study by Composite Insights (Opportunities for Composites in Indian Wind Energy Industry – 2012-2017: Trend, Forecast and Opportunity Analysis). In 2011, India was the third largest wind market in the world, with over 3200 MW capacity added. Composite Insights, based in Hyderabad, India, estimates that India will continue to add new wind capacity of 3000-6000 MW annually through to 2017.
www.reinforcedplastics.com