The aerospace market
July 12th, 2019
As NASA sets a course for Mars and a return to the moon, and private companies engage in a new space race, textile companies find opportunities for high-performance fabrics and products. by Amy Goetzman When does a single lemon cost $2,000? When it’s in space. NASA reports that it costs about $10,000 in fuel to […]
Hexcel launches new carbon fiber fabrics project
October 6th, 2017
Hexcel will launch MAXIM, a new government-backed 7.4 million pound research and development project, and expand its manufacturing facility in Leicester. The Multi Axial Infused Materials (MAXIM) project will explore the manufacture of new, cost-effective carbon fiber fabric forms and resins that can be made into parts without the need for autoclaves. Hexcel is installing […]
Stratospheric balloon completes solar-powered flight
September 25th, 2017
World View’s Stratollite navigable balloon recently achieved its first day–night cycle flight. The Tucson, Ariz.-based aerospace company reported that the Stratollite’s solar panels generated, stored and distributed full system power needed for flight throughout the night. Stratollites capitalize on rapid deployability and low-impact flight of balloons, then add solar power and the ability for station-keeping […]
Specialty Fabrics Showcase 2016: Call for submissions
January 25th, 2016
The April and May 2016 issues of Specialty Fabrics Review magazine will include our special annual showcase of our contributors’ latest high-performance fabrics, for end products ranging from awnings, canopies and tents to medical, military and aerospace products. If you’re an end-product manufacturer, watch for this special feature in our spring 2016 issues! If you’re […]
Berria Bike introduces frames using TeXtreme
October 20th, 2015
Spanish high-performance bicycle maker Berria introduced its 2016 bikes featuring TeXtreme® ultralight carbon-fiber frames at the Unibike show in Madrid Sept. 18-20. Models featuring the TeXtreme frames are the Belador Team 3.0 BR, Belador Evo 3.0 BR and Bravo Team 4.0 BR, Bravo Evo 4.0 BR Infinity 1. Based in Borås, Sweden, ultralight-composites maker TeXtreme […]
Narrow fabrics’ widening markets
July 10th, 2015
Say “narrow fabric” and the average consumer may think of ribbon and zippers. The markets for narrow fabric manufacturers go far beyond those products, and with ongoing technological advances are broadening even further. Carolina Narrow Fabric proves the point. Founded in 1929, the company based in Winston-Salem, N.C., didn’t start with an interest in the […]
Keeping it cool in space
June 5th, 2015
Specialized textiles play an important role in thermal control for an evolving aerospace marketplace. Where there are flights, space missions and satellites, there are advanced textiles. For composites used in aircraft engines, multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets for launch support and satellites, or—of course—space wear for participants of manned space exploration, textiles and textile components are […]
Aerospace showcase call for submissions
August 5th, 2013
IFAI Specialty Fabrics Expo 2013 and Advanced Textiles Conference & Trade Show will feature a unique opportunity to showcase applications used in the aerospace industry. Interested companies are asked to submit items for consideration by August 15, 2013 using the online submission form: http://ifaiexpo.com/forms/display. All items must include textiles or composite materials with a fabric […]
Manufacturers of aeronautics go above and beyond
April 2nd, 2013
Manufacturers of aeronautics and aerospace products fill demanding and diverse performance requirements Sources remain mum on what it is about the fabric in Superman’s cape that allows him to fly faster than a speeding bullet. However, we know quite a lot about the Red Bull Stratos pressure suit that allowed Felix Baumgartner to survive his […]
Protecting gear in outer space
March 1st, 2012
Dutch European Space Agency astronaut André Kuipers joined a Russian cosmonaut and a NASA engineer on a December 2011 mission to the International Space Station, carrying a set of gear pouches full of sensitive, scientific hardware. The pouches, developed by Dutch companies Schonenborg Space Engineering BV, Noordwijk, and TenCate Protective Fabrics, Nijverdal, feature attributes that […]