Looking For Reading Material Re Composites

[JohnRgt 0]

Can anyone recommend reading on composites and/or carbon fiber? I'm interested in learning more about how to use these materials for both "skin" and structural components in high performance autos.

[Jay P 0]

Can anyone recommend reading on composites and/or carbon fiber? I'm interested in learning more about how to use these materials for both "skin" and structural components in high performance autos.

I see that the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology has a 5 page article under the subject "composite material", with references to other articles in the encyclopedia. (This is a 20-volume work; I often turn to it for an in-depth introduction to a scientific subject.)

And, some interesting history, although maybe not exactly what you want: the Spring 2007 issue of American Heritage of Invention and Technology has a long article about the history and development of fiberglass, including its use in car bodies. (There's a picture of the first Corvettes with fiberglass bodies, 1953; also a silk-and-glass dress from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, that weighed 13.5 pounds(!))

Another place to look might be the materials science department of a large university - see what textbook they use in courses about these composite materials.

[Paul's Here 0]

Can anyone recommend reading on composites and/or carbon fiber? I'm interested in learning more about how to use these materials for both "skin" and structural components in high performance autos.

Are you looking for books or magazines or online information? SAMPE is a technical society. Additional info can be found here and here. You might check out a library also. Give an automobile manufacturer a call and ask for to speak with someone in the technical area.

[JohnRgt 0]

Are you looking for books or magazines or online information?

Yes, please!

Give an automobile manufacturer a call and ask for to speak with someone in the technical area

After I get a feel for this stuff I plan on calling the Gods -- McLaren!

My thanks for the suggestions -- please keep them coming.

[RickWilmes 0]

I found this interesting website and article.

All-composite Humvee rolled out

By Tony Deligio

Redesigning the vehicles to utilize composites in initial construction versus in-the-field retrofits with composite elements, TPI Composites Inc. (Warren, RI) and Armor Holdings Inc. (Jacksonville, FL) unveiled a new light-weight all-composite HMMWV (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle or Humvee). The culmination of an 18-month R&D program with U.S. Army and AM General, the Humvee’s manufacturer, the result was a vehicle that is 900 lb lighter than its steel and aluminum counterpart, with those weight savings allowing the vehicles to haul additional armor or equipment.

I haven't played with the search engine but the site has a link to

The Plastic Web

[RickWilmes 0]

This also might be of interest.

SCRIMP Technology

Through its subsidiary, TPI Technology, the company owns the patented SCRIMP technology (Seemann Composites Resin Infusion Molding Process). SCRIMP® is a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding process that uses a vacuum to pull liquid resin into a dry lay-up. It results in lighter, stronger, and more reliable composite structures.

[Paul's Here 0]

Are you looking for books or magazines or online information?

Yes, please!

Give an automobile manufacturer a call and ask for to speak with someone in the technical area

After I get a feel for this stuff I plan on calling the Gods -- McLaren!

My thanks for the suggestions -- please keep them coming.

Here's a handbook from ASM.

[Cometmaker 0]

Compositesworld.com offered a brief overview of the automotive applications in this article, back in 2005.

The ORNL (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) researchers can tell you about the minutiae of cutting-edge research on most aspects of automotive applications. Depending on your background, you may need to be familiar with a basic materials science and engineering textbook if you first need to understand atomic bonding, types of defects, deformations and fatigue, the difference between metals, iron-carbon alloys and polymers, and established types of strengthening and manufacturing techniques.

[Go 4 TLI 0]

Although aimed at airframe manufacturers, this book might be of some value. There are links to additional sources of information as well.

[JohnRgt 0]

This is the composites concern behind many of the supercars making headlines these days:

ATR Group

Note that McLaren, always obsessed with doing everything in-house, isn't on the list.

(A McLaren story: Asked if the McLaren F1 was going to be like the Ferrari F40, Gordon Murray, the F1's chief designer, replied, "I don't think so, there's no one at McLaren who can weld that badly.")

[JohnRgt 0]

I've looked through a pile of books and textbooks on composites since I started this thread. The most useful one I've found is Carbon Fibers and their Composites by Peter Morgan.

As the Contents section shows, the book addresses just about every aspect of this ridiculously sexy material. I found I could follow the writing rather easily.

Those near Manhattan can look through a copy of this book at the Science, Industry and Business branch of the New York Public Library. (See www.worldcat.org for a list of libraries that carry this and other titles throughout the world.)

My thanks to all who took the time to help.