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This paper aims to document the approach, effort and cost of advance composite technology implementation suited for small and medium enterprises on the example of composite main rotor blade development for ILX-27 helicopter.

This work was carried out as part of a development project for main rotor blades used on the ILX 27 helicopter. The paper presents all stages of the design of the blade structure in parallel with composite technology development. The data were gathered and documented during project execution. The stages of R&D work in terms of labor intensity and important processes influencing quality and efficiency were assessed.

The paper provides key aspects for successful composite capability introduction. The incurred cost of equipment and staff training is evaluated. The paper also summarized the cost of composite parts manufactured with developed technology.

The paper provides detail example of composite capability development including basic technologies, processes, equipment and cost of the project. Presented details can be great guidelines for small and medium enterprises with the goal of composite technology introduction for aerostructures design and manufacturing.

This paper present clear, complete and verified process of composite capability development for aerostructures design and build suited for small and medium enterprises. It presents detail cost, calculated in Polish economy environment, of each phase and final cost of the product.

Composites are prime examples of technology moving faster than the underlying science. Faced with increasing global competitiveness, the issues of high cost, product robustness and long lead times associated with product development are emerging in the forefront of problems facing emerging and existing performance‐critical industries, such as in the area of advanced materials. However, the mere use of the new paradigms or philosophies, such as concurrent engineering, is insufficient to guarantee successful completion of the product realization process (PRP). Planning for competitiveness and quality as an integral part of the programme goals and decision process is a key to success. It is essential that clear plans be developed and measurable attributes of performance be identified as early in the design process as possible. The approach described herein provides the framework for successful implementation of an integrated decision‐production system within the basic definition of Total Quality Management (TQM). Discusses the five elements critical to the success of a new technology or product: definition; requirements; benchmarking; concepts; and review.

This article aims to present a systematic and up-to-date account of carbon-based reinforcements, including carbon nanotube (CNT), carbon nanofibre (CNF), carbon black (CB), carbon fibre (CF) and grapheme, in shape-memory polymer (SMP) for electrical actuation.

Studies exploring carbon-based reinforcement in SMP composites for electrically conductive performance and Joule heating triggered shape recovery have been included, especially for the principle design, characterisation and shape recovery behaviour, making the article a comprehensive account of the systemic progress in SMP composite incorporating conductive carbon reinforcement.

SMPs are fascinating materials and have attracted great academic and industrial attention owing to their significant macroscopic shape deformation in the presence of an appropriate stimulus. The working mechanisms, the physico requirements and the theoretical origins of the different types of carbon-based reinforcement SMP composites have been discussed. Current research and development on the fabrication strategies of carbon-based reinforcement SMP composites have been summarised.

A systematic review is to evaluate carbon-based reinforcements in SMPs for electrical actuation and discuss recent developments and future applications.

Carbon-based reinforcements in SMPs can be used as smart deployable space structure in the broad field of aerospace technologies.

To reveal the research and development of utilising CNT, CNF, CB, CF and grapheme to achieve shape recovery of SMP composites through electrically resistive heating, which will significantly benefit the research and development of smart materials and systems.

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the potential of three-dimensional printing technology for the remanufacturing of end-of-life (EoL) composites. This technology will enable the rapid fabrication of environmentally sustainable structures with complex shapes and good mechanical properties. These three-dimensional printed objects will have several application fields, such as street furniture and urban renewal, thus promoting a circular economy model.

For this purpose, a low-cost liquid deposition modeling technology was used to extrude photo-curable and thermally curable composite inks, composed of an acrylate-based resin loaded with different amounts of mechanically recycled glass fiber reinforced composites (GFRCs). Rheological properties of the extruded inks and their printability window and the conversion of cured composites after an ultraviolet light (UV) assisted extrusion were investigated. In addition, tensile properties of composites remanufactured by this UV-assisted technology were studied.

A printability window was found for the three-dimensional printable GFRCs inks. The formulation of the composite printable inks was optimized to obtain high quality printed objects with a high content of recycled GFRCs. Tensile tests also showed promising mechanical properties for printed GFRCs obtained with this approach.

The novelty of this paper consists in the remanufacturing of GFRCs by the three-dimensional printing technology to promote the implementation of a circular economy. This study shows the feasibility of this approach, using mechanically recycled EoL GFRCs, composed of a thermoset polymer matrix, which cannot be melted as in case of thermoplastic-based composites. Objects with complex shapes were three-dimensional printed and presented here as a proof-of-concept.

This paper aims to provide an overview of the current manufacturing methods for three-dimensional textile preforms while providing experimental data on the emerging techniques of combining yarn interlocking with yarn interlooping.

The paper describes the key textile technologies used for composite manufacture: braiding, weaving and knitting. The various textile preforming methods are suited to different applications; their capabilities and end performance characteristics are analysed.

Such preforms are used in composites in a wide range of industries, from aerospace to medical and automotive to civil engineering. The paper highlights how the use of knitting technology for preform manufacture has gained wider acceptance due to its flexibility in design and shaping capabilities. The tensile properties of glass fibre knit structures containing inlay yarns interlocked between knitted loops are given, highlighting the importance of reinforcement yarns.

The future trends of reinforcement yarns in knitted structures for improved tensile properties are discussed, with initial experimental data.

This paper aims to exploit shape-memory polymers as self-healable materials. The underlying mechanism involved the thermal transitions as well as the enrichment of the healing reagents and the closure of the crack surfaces due to shape recovery. The multi-stimuli-triggered shape memory composite was capable of self-healing under not only direct thermal but also electrical stimulations.

The shape memory epoxy polymer composites comprising the AgNWs and poly (ε-caprolactone) were fabricated by dry transfer process. The morphologies of the composites were investigated by the optical microscope and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrical conduction and the Joule heating effect were measured. Furthermore, the healing efficiency under the different stimuli was calculated, whose dependence on the compositions was also discussed.

The AgNWs network maintained most of the pathways for the electrons transportation after the dry transfer process, leading to a superior conduction and flexibility. Consequently, the composites could trigger the healing within several minutes, as applied with relatively low voltages. It was found that the composites having more the AgNWs content had better electrically triggered performance, while 50 per cent poly (ε-caprolactone) content endowed the materials with max healing efficiency under thermal or electrical stimuli.

The findings may greatly benefit the application of the intelligent polymers in the fields of the multifunctional flexible electronics.

Most studies have by far emphasized on the direct thermal triggered cases. Herein, a novel, flexible and conductive shape memory-based composite, which was capable of self-healing under the thermal or electrical stimulations, has been proposed.

Examines the ninth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of using rapid prototyping (RP) technologies (stereolithography (SLA), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and three‐dimensional printing (3DP)) for fabrication of the core of a composite sandwich structure.

Control cores of a flat geometry were fabricated from epoxy using SLA and from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic using FDM. Corrugated geometry cores were fabricated using SLA, FDM, and 3DP. Carbon‐epoxy composite sandwich structures were fabricated from all cores using a wet‐hand layup process with vacuum cure. The performance of each core was measured using a bend test to determine bending stiffness and failure load.

Based upon bending stiffness and failure load, composite sandwich structures utilizing epoxy cores fabricated via SLA outperformed composite sandwich structures utilizing plaster powder and ABS plastic cores. Composite sandwich structures with corrugated ABS plastic cores outperformed those with flat ABS plastic cores by a margin well beyond that predicted by theory in both bending stiffness and failure load.

The marked improvement in stiffness and failure load of the composite sandwich structures with corrugated ABS plastic cores over those with flat ABS cores is not explained by the theoretical improvement due to an increased area moment of inertia and increased surface area. Additional research in the failure mechanism is warranted.

The ability to easily create complex core geometries will allow for the ability to place enhanced structural features in the regions of high stress.

This paper demonstrates that cores fabricated via RP technology and containing enhanced structural features are suitable for carbon‐epoxy composite sandwich structures.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate some common bread improvers (normally used for 100 per cent wheat bread) for their effect on the quality attributes of wheat-cassava (90:10) composite bread.

Four commonly used bread improvers (ASA, ABT, EDC and PTB) in Nigeria were evaluated for their effect on the baking potential of wheat-cassava (90:10) composite flour. Bread samples were baked from wheat-cassava (90:10) composite flour, with and without bread improvers. Changes in dough height during fermentation, oven spring, yield and specific volume of bread samples were determined. Bread samples were also evaluated for their sensory and staling characteristics.

Results showed that dough height during fermentation did not change significantly (p<0.05) and crumb colour, firmness, taste and aroma were unaffected by addition of bread improvers; but oven spring, yield, specific volume, bread shape, crust colour, texture and overall acceptability of bread were significantly different (p>0.05). All the bread improvers except ABT extended the shelf life of wheat-cassava (90:10) composite bread for a period of 24-48 hours.

Bread improvers normally used for 100 per cent wheat bread could be used effectively for wheat-cassava (90:10) composite bread without an adverse effect on quality of bread.

Bread makers need little or no additional training to handle wheat-cassava (90:10) composite flour for bread making process hence, Nigeria can sustain her policy of using wheat-cassava composite flour for baking without any serious technical problem.

This paper aims to create and to study multifunctional shape memory polymer (SMP) composites having temperature-sensing and actuating capabilities by embedding thermochromic particles within the polymer matrix.

The multifunctional materials were fabricated following a process consisting of blending (of the thermochromic particles and the SMP at various ratios), mixing, degasing, moulding and thermal curing, prepared by incorporating thermochromic particles within the polymer. The effect of the thermochromic particles on the thermomechanical properties and thermally responsive shape memory effect of the resulting multifunction SMP composites were characterised and interpreted.

It was found that exposure of the composites to temperatures above 70°C led to a pronounced change of their colour that was recorded by the thermal and electrical actuation approaches and was reproducibly reversible. It was also found that the colour of the composites was independent of the mechanical state of the SMP. Such effects enabled monitoring of the onset of the set/release temperature of the SMP matrix. Furthermore, the combination of thermochromic additive and the SMP resulted in significantly improved thermomechanical strength, absorption of infrared radiation and the temperature distribution of the SMP composites.

The temperature-sensing and actuating capabilities of the polymeric shape memory composites developed through this study will help to extend the field of potential applications of such composites to fields including sensors, actuators, security labels and information dissemination, where colour indication is an advantageous feature.

The SMP composites capable of temperature sensing and actuating are novel.