Team MAST has been delivering the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD’s) low to medium maturity materials and structures research since November 2007. This article presents case studies from that work - coatings to lower solar heat absorption, self healing of fibre-reinforced polymer composites and integrated damage resistance in composite structures.
Recycling carbon fibre composites is not straightforward, yet there are strong financial and energy incentives for saving the fibre from landfill. This article presents current mechanisms for retreval of the fibres.
With concerns about the state of UK manufacturing, Meagan Ellis takes a look at niche fields where UK firms are making a name for themselves and the challenges that lie ahead.
A UK-based research consortium from the Universities of Ulster and Warwick is building an eco-friendly Formula 3 racing car. They are making use of bio-resins and bio-composites to make a lighter structure and reduce fuel use.
Composite flexible material developments for the aerospace and defence markets are presented. Including clothing for military use and a spacecrew emergency module.
Materials selection can affect tennis racket and player performance. The stiffness-related vibration of the frame and shock transmission to the player are common complaints that manufacturers are addressing through applications such as piezo materials.
Many motorsport innovations rely on carbon fibre composites (CFCs) to provide specific properties that are unobtainable with traditional metallic materials and manufacturing techniques. But it is not enough to take an existing metallic component and simply change it to a CFC.
