The Effects of Reinforcement Selection of Composites Manufacturing
A whole new generation of composites manufacturers are entering the workforce, and it’s up to the industry to train them, says Kevin Spoo of Owens Corning. He’ll be doing his part to help fabricators learn the basics of fiber reinforcement selection at Composites 2010, with a session titled Fiber Technology: Its importance in Producing a Quality Laminate.
“For instance, whether it’s fiberglass or carbon, reinforcements vary in terms of filament size and diameter,” he says. “Different filament diameters serve different functions. You can’t just way I want to go get carbon, or I want to go get glass.”
The type of reinforcement and the how it’s packaged affects how it will perform during the manufacturing process. “Larger diameter fibers will give you faster wetting. That may be a feature someone is interested in,” he says. “Small fibers provide both strength and impact resistance. The list goes on.”
Spoo hopes that by the end of the session, attendees will better understand what role fiber selection plays in the manufacturing process and where to go for additional help. “We don’t want people out there making mistakes. We want them to make smart choices and brilliant innovation.”
