Thermosets

The fast expansion of the wind energy industry has resulted in a significant rise in Wind Turbine Blade (WTB) waste. Unfortunately, conventional disposal methods can exacerbate environmental issues.

Microencapsulated flame retardants (MFRs) revolutionize the landscape of fire protection for polymer materials. They leverage encapsulation technology to enhance performance while addressing environmental and safety concerns. 

Recent advances have shown that natural and waste-derived fillers, like eggshell powder (ESP), can greatly enhance the properties of composite materials.

Abdul Baghirov pioneers a transformative method to integrate hair fibers into Kevlar aerogels. It offers enhanced filtration efficiency and sustainable solutions to combat environmental challenges due to human hair waste.

New resins lacking thermal measurements may face challenges in meeting regulatory standards and entering the market. However, the use of AI can streamline the introduction of these resins by potentially halving the time needed for testing and regulatory approvals.

4D printing is an evolution in the manufacturing process that incorporates the dimension of time into 3D printing.

Dual-curing represents an innovative approach that enhances control over the final properties of parts through a multistage curing process.

Chemical recycling, particularly the depolymerization of PET presents a groundbreaking approach to tackling the global plastic waste dilemma.

The need to lower the steep costs of traditional manufacturing, involving expensive tooling and molds, makes advancing composite manufacturing a key research focus.

In the quest for sustainability, proper waste management is a main challenge, particularly when it comes to plastics. The Recyclopedia initiative teaches proper sorting and disposal of plastics and other items.

Toray Industries Inc. and MODEC Inc. have jointly developed another technique for repairing offshore oil and gas platforms. This latest approach uses a carbon fiber-reinforced plastic patch, together with epoxy resin, to fix small areas affected by corrosion.

The future of commercial aviation is heading towards supersonic flights, and the development of new composite materials that meet the highest thermal and stiffness requirements will be the keystone for this new era in air transportation.