Old skills weave smart future for the North West

FT.com / World - Old skills weave smart future for north-west

Manchester launches £2.1m aerospace composites centre

University of Manchester
http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/pressreleases/nwcc/

Netcomposites

http://www.netcomposites.com/news.asp?3621

Quickstep Advances with New European Showcase Centre

http://www.netcomposites.com/news.asp?3640

Composites News Super Site

http://www.compositesnews.com/cni.asp?articleID=10459

JEC Composites

http://www.jeccomposites.com/composites-news/1883/Manchester-launches-£2.1m.html

Northwest pioneers science ‘firsts’

Northwest Development Agency
http://www.nwda.co.uk/SimpleContent.aspx?news=1&area=72&subarea=73&item=20062222808055862

An Introduction to Composites

Date: Wednesday 7th May 2008

Time:  09.00 to 17.00

Location:  The University of Manchester

Programme includes the following topics:--

• A Review of the aircraft led demand for composites

• Introduction to potential uses and driving forces for adoption of composites

• Matrices and fibres - overview of available types

• Processing of polymer composites

• Introduction to costs and other sources of information

• Centre Tour

Please note there is a nominal charge of £95.00 per person for this event which includes refreshments, lunch and a delegate information pack.

For further information please contact laurence.carraz@manchester.ac.uk

Fire Resistance of Composites : Challenges and Opportunities

Date: Tuesday 16th September 2008

TIme:  To be confirmed

Location:  The University of Bolton

For the use of polymeric composites in the transport and construction industries both as structural materials for exterior and flexible assemblies for interior applications, the associated fire risks and their assessment are crucial.  For critical applications especially, most products have to conform to certain specified fire performance requirements and regulations.  However, these may exclude the associated critical issues regarding the loss in mechanical performance during fire exposure and the residual strength of these composites subjected to elevated temperatures, which then influences the overall integrity of a product or structure as a whole during and after exposure to fire.  Over recent years fire retardant strategies have been developed to render composite materials 'fire-safe', to levels which vary from one application to another. This one day event will explore the latest developments, shortcomings and futher opportunities in this field.

The event organised by NWCC will be hosted by the University of Bolton, which is well know for the research in fire retardant materials.  Bolton's expertise in fire retardancy ranges from fibre and textile materials to thermoplastics, thermosets and fibre-reinforced rigid composites.

Annual Conference

The second Annual Conference will take place on Monday 21st January 2008.  Venue: The University of Manchester, Faculty of Life Sciences, Michael Smith Building, just off Dover Street, Manchester. Further details can be found by clicking here. Programme.  To register your interest, please contact richard.day@manchester.ac.uk.

Technology Update Seminars

The Northwest Composites Centre is running a series of six monthly technology update seminars. Further details will be posted soon.

LATEST REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS

Annual Conference -21 January 2008

• Quickstep Activities at the NWCC: A Review

• Quickstep Processing of Cytec 997-2

• Introduction To Melding of Composites Structures Using QS

• Development of Laminates Containing FBG Sensors For Structural Health Monitoring

• Joining of Composites Using Quickstep Manufactured Connectors

• Resin Formulation for Rapid Processing

• Metal Matrix Composites for Automotive Engine Applications

• Overview of Progress in Microwave and RF Processing

• Non Destructive Testing of Composites using Eddy Current Techniques

• Qualification of Composite Materials - An Update