Advanced Composites

Meeting the chalenge
The plastics and composite materials market is constantly changing. Constantly expanding.
New products are generating new ideas and application areas. And new applications in turn, can stimulate the development of yet more new products.
Today, those application areas are being further expanded. Through the new levels of stiffness and strength at low weight, that advanced fibre technology brings to the production and use of composite materials.

A changing market
The physical characteristics of advanced fibre materials encased in a matrix offer extensive scope to the creative design engineer.

In robotised machinery for example, where accuracy and precision operation are essential in high speed operations.
The strength and stiffness at low weight, plus the stability that advanced fibres bring to a component promote long and reliable life.

Healthcare in another area where advanced fibres can play a role in orthesis and prothesis.
The inert advanced fibres can be successfully implanted as replacement ligaments for example.
And when combined with other composites they can be used in a wide variety of other implants. From hip joints to heart valves.

The automotive industry too is increasingly realising that advanced fibre materials can bring. Through their stiffness, strength and light weight and from the high corrosion resistance properties that they offer. All of which means advanced fibre composites are suitable for a wide range of applications. The current fuel economy and CO2 emissions will push the composites boundaries further to advanced composite structures. A successfull application is the braided crashcones inside a GT car. Due to the triaxial braided structure the energy absoption is constant and tunable.

Braided crashcone for a large series GT sportscar.         Body in black with assembled crascones.

In aerospace, the advantages of weight reduction, plus good torsional strength can contribute in places like wing spars, landing gear components and many more structural components. The Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 are good examples of a airplaines with high composites content.

Braided Landing gear for NH-90 helicopter

And in military applications the remarkable strength and impact resistance that advanced fibres add to composites makes them high performers in armoured applications. They also have characteristics which make them ideal for use in applications like radomes, because they are transparent to radar signals.

Braided propellers on A-400M military airplane

In sporting arenas all over the world, fibre reinforced products are also enhancing performances. Indoors or outdoors. Summer and winter. Wherever there is a need for equipment that combines strength and stiffness with light weight, there is a need for materials that include advanced fibre products from Eurocarbon.

This Corima bike is a good example of sporting product
made of carbon fibre.

Specialised products for a wide range of applications
The advantages of using advanced fibre products in composites are being demonstrated in an exceptionally extensive range of applications. At heart of these composites of course, are the advanced fibre materials.
Like all types of high performance polyethylene and aramid fibres, together with all grades of carbon, ceramic and glass fibres. These can be in the form of woven tapes of tubular and flat braided products.

Early to recognise the potential of the advanced fibre technology concept in the 'pioneering days of the late seventies', Eurocarbon today brings the experience of a dedicated team of specialists and agents to every aspect of the production of advanced fibre products to the highest specifications. That experience is also applied to production methods and machines which have been specifically designed, or modified to meet changing needs.

The result is products with optimal properties, reduced filament breakage and the lowest possible production costs.

Designed for the job
To consistently ensure that you get the right product for your own particular application requires more than Eurocarbon's depth of knowledge and experience in dealing with the versatile possibillities that advanced fibre materials can offer. It requires a close analysis, of your own precise needs. So at Eurocarbon, we can also offer an advisory service. Acting as your partner to ensure that the right fibre materials are specified. With the right matrix.

We'll even help in assessing the production techniques that suit your own perticular requirements best.
For less complex problems, all we generally need to know are few basic dimensions, the desired material sizes… and your order is quickly and efficiently completed. It's better that way. Because it means you get precisely what you want. This approach also helps cost efficiency… and that in turn is reflected in the competitive price we can offer.

Which advanced fibre?
Eurocarbon advanced fibre products are custom made for every application. With woven tapes for example, there's a choice of yarn configuration and (complex) weave construction. All to ensure a product of the right weight and dimension that will give optimal performance in the composite structure in which it is to be used.

It's the same story for Eurocarbon flat or tubular braids. With yarn configurations and braid angles to meet specific needs, such as overcoming shear problems and meeting the most demanding torsional requirements.

At Eurocarbon this 'made for the job' philosophy is possible thanks to our weaving machines being either specifically designed, or modified, to suit our own precise production methods. This, plus, stringent quality control measures at every stage of manufacture ensure that consistent high levels of product quality are always achieved.
In 1994 Eurcarbon pusthed the braiding boundries further by the start of the Overbraiding technique. This technique enables the customer to buy finished net-shape preforms which are produced in a automated reproducible way.

Looking to tomorrow.....
The rapidly changing face of the composites market demands flexibility to meet its challenges. Plus the knowledge and experience to often anticipate them.
Eurocarbon has that flexibility, knowledge and experience.
We also have the support and continuing backup of comprehensive research and development into new composites.