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Focuses on the increase in the use of composite engineering materials in the U.S. Reasons behind the increased interest in composite materials; Explanation of how the properties of the constituents influence the performance of a composite; Kinds of composite output.

The article predicts the condition of the U.S. nonwovens industry until 2013 and takes a look at some developments related to the industry. Demand for nonwoven roll goods is expected to rise to 6.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2013, according to a report from the Freedonia Group. Nonwovens are projected to take market share from other materials like paper and woven fabrics. In terms of company activities, Hollingsworth and Vose is planning to install a carbon composite filter manufacturing line.

Looks at how the earth's galaxy may contain an entire class of planets have a thick mantle of crystallized carbon or diamond. Description of hypothesized carbon planets; Suggestion that the planets may only be able to form around neutron starts; Theory that carbon planets may be the most common type in the galaxy; Review of the work of Princeton University astronomer Marc Kuchner; Comments from Kuchner regarding his work.

This article examines technology that uses carbon-fiber composites rather than rivets for fixing old bridges. Since the collapse of the I-35 W bridge in Minneapolis, bridges all over the U.S. have been examined and 160,000 of them are found to be in need of repair. Stress on bridge gusset plates is a major cause of bridge failure. The repair alternative for the plates is called CarbonWrap and is ten times stronger than steel, cheaper and quicker to use.

The article offers information on several patents in the U.S. related to science and technology. It states that one of the patent is related a metal oxide-carbon composite which is made by immersion of carbon aerosol in metal oxide. It mentions that another patent is for making a contact stress sensor. It highlights that another patent is regarding measurement of atmospheric transmittance and radiance.

The article focuses on the Columbia space craft accident. A chunk of fuel tank cladding fired at a replica space shuttle wing blew a whopping great hole in its leading edge last week. The foam easily breached the reinforced carbon composite (RCC) panels of the wing, a material NASA thought so strong it had barely tested it. Carried out at the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas, it managed to reproduce with uncanny accuracy at least four different aspects of the events thought to have taken place during Columbia's final mission, as revealed by ground images, radar, and the doomed shuttle's on-board sensors. First, the test proved conclusively that a foam insulation block of the size and shape seen in the launch video could indeed cause enough damage to lead to the break-up of the craft when it re-entered the Earth's atmosphere. Further analysis of the wing replica, which used actual RCC panels from the surviving shuttles, revealed that in addition to the hole itself, the impact produced a series of deep cracks in the material, leaving some sections barely attached. INSET: ATLANTIS WING BREACH 'IRRELEVANT'.

The article discusses the F-35 Lighting II joint strike fighter (JSF) program of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) being undertaken by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. The multirole F-35 aircraft has three models, the F-35A for conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL), the F-35B for short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) and the F-35C for carrier-based landing (CV). The plane's structure is made of about 35% of carbon fiber composites by weight. INSET: Proving tool geometry & materials.

The article presents details of the construction of the 24.2m/80-ft M-80 Stiletto vessel of the U.S. Navy. The carbon composite exterior of the vessel makes its hull and deck structures radar transparent. The unique hull configuration created by M Ship Co., referred to as the double-M design, produces minimal wake that cannot be easily discerned by aircraft overhead. The hull was constructed in stages in a process that took three to four months.

The article reports on the carbon black prices in the U.S. as of January 1938 which was a result of accumulated stocks and more competition.

The article focuses on the benefits of the CFOAM, a new carbon material from Touchstone Research Laboratory Ltd., to the Department of Defense in the U.S. the CFOAM can be used as a composite tooling, blast energy absorbing panels, and a thermal protection systems which can protect a personnel from explosively formed projectile. Harrop Industries Inc. and Ceralink Inc. have supported the development of the CFOAM.

The article focuses on the application of composite materials for the Primary Mirror Backplane Support Structure of the James Webb Space Telescope of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It is noted that the backplane support is required to be perfectly stable within 38 nanometer at cryogenic temperatures during long periods of light collection.

Discusses the use of carbonfibre composites in commercial transport aircraft design. Advantage of composites; Information on research projects concerning composites to be funded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration; Problem with composites over metallic structures, according to Frank Simmons of Gulfstream Aerospace.

Discusses the history of the use of oil from whale oil to the present research and development of biofuels and projects to a future without oil. How the current expense of oil has made alternatives economically viable; Description of ways the United States can save and substitute for oil, including improving fuel mileage, using lightweight steels or carbon composites, and improving the aerodynamics of trucks and planes; Statistics about the costs and the savings of switching to alternative fuels and the benefits and number of jobs to be created.

The article reports that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) has developed Modular Protective Systems (MPS), a technology-based solution for physical protective measures. MPS consists of a lightweight frame and composite armor panels, allowing for easy transport.

The article offers information about the performance colours from U.K.based thermal ceramics coatings provider Zircotec Group. The article also discusses the coating process and the services offered as described by MD of Zircotec Group, Terry Graham and presents an overview of other upcoming projects of the company.

The article mentions about the U.S. Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations that require a corporate average of 54.5 mpg for all automaker's fleet fuel efficiency by the year 2025. It highlights the importance of carbon composites in achieving this requirement as it helps in reducing curb weight of vehicles which in turn improves fuel efficiency of the vehicle. It describes developments made by automobile industry for using carbon composites in automobiles.

The article discusses the several composites projects being pursued by the University of Maine's Advanced Engineered Wood Composites (AEWC) Advanced Structures and Composites Center, including the trademarked Bridge-in-a-Backpack rigidified and inflatable composite arch bridge technology as a substitute to conventional bridge replacements. The U.S. government has shown interest in the new bridge technology, which consists of foldable dry structural carbon and glass fiber "tubes" or sleeves.

The article focuses on the impact of the financial crises on the aerospace materials industry of the U.S. It is stated that the crises will reduce air traffic and stall the construction of airplanes that will in turn put pressure on the materials industry. It describes about the cyclical nature of the aerospace industry marked by periods of extreme growths followed by shorter periods of retrenchment and mentions about the rising demand of carbon composites.

The article announces the selection of the Center for Composite Materials at the University of Delaware in Newark, part of a team led by Northrop Grumann Ship Systems, to develop a predictable and repeatable resin infusion process for fabricating carbon/vinyl-ester composite structures. This project was awarded by the U.S. Center for Naval Shipbuilding Technology (CNST). It will focus on the use of carbon fiber, which yields lighter composites with improved performance but can present manufacturing challenges.

The article reports that carbon credits are currently sold in special bourses and generate large income for companies in the U.S. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. announces its intention to purchase $23 million of Climate Exchange PLC shares while European Climate Exchange operating bourses have increased their trading. Moreover, the mild weather reduced the demand which causes prices to go down after nine consecutive trading sessions and it is also expected that colder forecasts for the winter may affect future pricing.

Focuses on the discovery of the semiconducting behavior of a carbon composite material by a student at the University of Buffalo in Buffalo, New York. Discovery as the foundation for structural electronics; Significance of the discovery when solving heat dissipation problems.

The author shares his thoughts on the use of carbon fiber composites in order to improve automotive fuel economy and reduce carbon emissions in the U.S. He notes the development of vehicles that will incorporate carbon fiber in body panels. He also points out the difficulty in reconfiguring an assembly line to incorporate composites into a vehicle's body structure, an issue that remains to be a hindrance to industry acceptance.

The author discusses the Composites Business Index (CBI) compiled by Gardner Business Media which highlights trends in the U.S. composites manufacturing industry. He describes how the CBI was produced through monthly surveys of composites manufacturing facilities across durable goods sectors in the country. He reports observed contraction in composites fabrication in February 2013 as well as growth in production and new orders. The volatility of capital equipment spending is also noted.

The article offers information on the effective use of carbon fiber composites in automobiles and commercial transportation by the companies of U.S and Europe.

The article anticipates an increase in the use of carbon composites as lightweight materials in auto design to accommodate U.S. mileage requirements. As of 2011, organizations engaged in research and development in this area include fiber producer Teijin, manufacturer Plasan Carbon Composites, and the U.S. Council for Automotive Research LLC.

The article explores growth prospects for the composites industry around the world in 2016 and beyond. The author expects the composite materials sector to reach 27.4 billion U.S. dollars by 2016, a 7.8% compound annual growth rate. Factors that have influenced such forecast includes the penetration of composites into various market segments, such construction and transportation, the potential for growth geographically, and the role of China's wind market.

The article announces the creation of Buckeye Composites division by the NanoTechLabs of Yadkinville, North Carolina and the National Composite Center (NCC) in Dayton, Ohio which will focus on the commercialization, scale-up and production of nanocarbon composites that use buckypaper, a nanomaterial composed of carbon nanotubes in a membrane or paper-like format. It is noted that the material will be used in thermal and electrical enhancements of aerospace applications in the U.S. Air Force.

The article reports that as part of the Vehicle Technologies Program of the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), its partners and the Automotive Composites Consortium (AAC), are working to replace steel in vehicles with carbon fiber composite material, a lighter polymer matrix composite that reduces vehicle weight and fuel demand. ORNL is also exploring other industrial applications of carbon composites including wind energy generation, oil exploration, power transmission and pressurized gas storage, the author said.

The author assesses the potential of various industries to increase their carbon fiber composite investments in the U.S. She says that carbon fiber composites are likely to be the future material of choice for both military and commercial airplanes. She says that many people in the carbon fiber industry believe that the aerospace is a big market for the sector. She cites that the new generation of automobile plants will be developing carbon fiber parts with automated tape laying machinery .

The article discusses the advantages of using reactivated carbon in industrial processing in the U.S. According to the author, the utilization of carbon reactivation and recycling is already part of an important choice for many companies in addressing their treatment needs in an environmentally friendly nature. It also costs less to produce because it requires less raw materials and energy consumption which in turn would be more cost efficient than virgin granulated carbon. In addition, the environmentally friendly and efficacy of reactivation carbon offer a more sufficient alternative than virgin activated carbon in treatment procedures.

Presents an update on the composite materials industry in the U.S. as of September 2004. Capabilities of the antiviral and antimicrobial amino thermoset compounds developed by Perstorp AB for injection and compression molding; Contract awarded by the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center of the U.S. Army to Goodrich Corp. to develop carbon-fiber reinforced barrel segments for mortars utilizing the FyreRoc composite.

Reports on the discovery of a material containing carbon nanopores by researchers at the University of Missouri in Columbia. Significance of the discovery; Benefits of carbon-nanopore materials for methane storage.

Reports on the action taken by pigment producers to recover from the effect of economic downturn in 2001 in the United States. Announcement of Millennium Chemicals Inc. that it was closing its sulfate process plant in Hawkins Point, Maryland; Problems experienced by carbon black producers in 2001; Termination of the sale of Columbian and its wire and cable subsidiary, PD Wire & Cable Group.

Reports on the development of the forced flow/thermal gradient chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process by materials scientists at Georgia Institute of Technology to reduce the fabrication time for carbon-carbon parts. Use of carbon-carbon composites in high-temperature aerospace equipment.

Reports on the development of a technology by Iowa State University together with Ametek Inc. which monitors the presence of carbon ash in coal-fired power plants. Mechanics of carbon measurement; Contact information.

Reports that a smart composite was developed by a professor at a University at Buffalo, which could detect deformation and damage in automobiles, aircrafts, bridges and other carbon-fiber composite products. When the research was presented; Advantage of using the method; Description of smart composites; Why the method is optimal.

Focuses on the benefits of the carbon-composite material that exhibits semiconducting behavior which was discovered by researchers at the University of Buffalo in New York. Details on possible applications; Comments from professor, Deborah Chung.