Carbon Fiber Knowledge
The latest from the world of advanced composites and carbon fiber technology.
Recycled carbon fiber compounding technology is maturing to enable closed-loop recycling of wind turbine blade materials. This article examines recycling processes, compound properties, and applications in non-structural wind energy components.
Carbon fiber drones are transforming wind turbine blade inspection, offering faster, safer, and more detailed condition assessment than rope-access methods. This article examines drone technology, data processing, and the business case for inspection services.
Western wind turbine OEMs face severe margin pressure as carbon fiber costs rise while turbine prices decline. This article analyzes the structural challenges facing Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, and GE Vernova, and their strategies for maintaining profitability.
Reusable rocket programs require lightweight composite propellant tanks that withstand multiple thermal cycles and deep-throttle engine operations. This article covers CFRP tank design, qualification testing, and operational experience from commercial launch vehicles.
Serbia is emerging as a carbon fiber manufacturing destination in Southeast Europe, leveraging EU accession incentives, competitive labor costs, and proximity to European automotive and defense markets. This article examines Serbia's carbon fiber capabilities and market positioning.
Industry analysts project a significant shortage of large-tow carbon fiber by 2028 as wind turbine blade demand outpaces production capacity. This article examines the supply-demand dynamics, capacity expansion timelines, and risk mitigation strategies for wind energy manufacturers.
Automated fiber placement (AFP) is transforming small wind turbine blade manufacturing, enabling higher production rates and more consistent quality than manual layup. This article examines AFP technology adaptation for blades in the 10-50 meter range, process parameters, and economic analysis.
A wind turbine blade is the most awkward object in modern industrial logistics. It is long, hollow, fragile in bending and growing without pause: the largest blades in commercial service now pass 107 meters, and every generation of turbines since has required the supply chain to handle
A modern wind turbine blade is, in structural terms, a sandwich construction wrapped around two load-carrying spar caps: thin, stiff outer skins separated by a low-density core that stabilizes them against buckling and carries shear. The skin is carbon or glass fiber laminate; the core