Carbon Fiber Knowledge
The latest from the world of advanced composites and carbon fiber technology.
Small satellites have changed the economics of space. Where a conventional communications or Earth observation spacecraft might take years to design and months to assemble, a modern small satellite constellation is built in batches, on a schedule closer to automotive production than to
Germany is Europe's largest market for carbon fiber and carbon fiber reinforced composites, and the structure of that demand is changing faster than in almost any other region. The country produces more than four million passenger cars per year, it hosts the continent's most important w
Composite laminates fail their analysis allowances most often through manufacturing variability, and the largest contributor is fiber orientation error. A unidirectional ply intended at zero degrees but placed at two degrees loses measurable stiffness; cross-ply and angle-ply laminates
Hydrofoils have transformed both ends of the marine market. At the performance end, the International Moth singlehanded dinghy foils at more than 25 knots, and America's Cup AC75 yachts accelerate past 50 knots on foils that lift the entire hull clear of the water. At the commercial end
Most carbon fiber composite parts leave the autoclave or press with excess material at the edges — trim allowance, flash, and fastener prepreg that must be removed before the part enters service. Milling and trimming are the operations that remove this material, and they are also the op
Colombia is one of Latin America's most dynamic markets for carbon fiber and advanced composites, driven by three overlapping sectors: a hydrocarbon industry anchored by the state-controlled operator Ecopetrol, a defense program that is replacing aging naval and aviation platforms, and
Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) is the most widely used technique for determining the glass transition temperature (Tg) of carbon fiber composites and quantifying their viscoelastic properties. For composite manufacturers and quality laboratories, Tg is more than a material data point
Carbon fiber golf shafts have become the default specification for premium drivers, fairway woods, and irons because no other material matches their combination of low weight, high stiffness, and tunable feel. A modern graphite shaft weighing only 50-75 grams replaces a steel shaft of 1
The Netherlands carbon fiber market is entering 2026 as one of the fastest-growing composite demand centers in Western Europe, powered by the country's dual energy transition bets on offshore wind and green hydrogen. With the North Sea becoming Europe's largest offshore wind basin and t