AIM Events

One unique benefit that composite materials have is the ability to be formed into complex geometries that other materials struggle with. Forming fabric into these geometries is key to producing these geometries. If the wrong fabric is used for a particular geometry and/or process it can lead to defects, such as severe fibre distortion, porosity, ... Read more

SAMPE Canada, CKN and CACMSA are organizing a series of virtual coffee breaks to discuss a variety of subjects related to Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). Topics will include the importance of D&I, mentorship, allyship, how to make your workplace more inclusive, unconscious bias, and more. Everyone is welcome to join. Our first presenter is Courtney ... Read more

Selecting the form of fibre, often referred to as the fibre architecture is a critical decision during the development process. Fibre architecture has a significant effect on cost, processability, defect generation, design/geometry limitations, damage tolerance, and other outcomes of a composite part. Individual fibres are grouped into bundles of thousands of fibres called tows. These ... Read more

Innovation in advanced manufacturing is essential to maintaining and growing good quality jobs in Canada, as well as ensuring domestic supply of critical products. There is great pressure to move advanced manufacturing production offshore to lower labour cost jurisdictions, in order to improve margins. An alternative way to improve margins and profitability is through product ... Read more

Controlling the curing parameters of resin, often referred to as thermal management, has a significant effect on the outcome of a thermoset polyester resin and therefore the overall performance of a composite part. Allowing polyester resin to cure under ambient conditions is the most common technique used in industry. One major drawback of this technique, ... Read more

A fundamental concept in materials science is that process history leads to microstructure evolution, which in turn determines mechanical and functional properties. For composite components, where the material is transformed at the same time as the component is created, the local process history is a function of the whole processing system which includes material(s), part ... Read more

This webinar will discuss the key manufacturing properties of thermoset resins such as viscosity, gelation, glass transition temperature, and degree of cure.

Composites are incredible materials when things go right – they enable innovative and otherwise impossible products. But manufacturing is difficult, and help is often needed to develop, optimize and troubleshoot processes.  Sometimes the help needed is direct guidance on specific best practices to deal with an immediate issue, and sometimes there is time to expand ... Read more

Non Crimped Fabrics (NCF) can produce opportunities for improved lightweight structures. Dr Lowe has worked for Teijin Carbon for 26 years, as development engineer, qualification engineer, Aerospace Group Manager and for the last year as Business Development Manager. He has been involved in the development and qualification of  NCF materials for Airbus structures including work on the wings of the ... Read more

Composite materials come in many different forms, shapes, and sizes. While this allows for flexibility in tailoring the design, it also results in many different possibilities for manufacturing, which can seem complicated and daunting. However, despite there being numerous choices for manufacturers, the complexities often associated with composite material processing can be deconvoluted and approached ... Read more

Structural analysis of composites requires material properties such as elastic and strength values. Physical testing, handbook/database values, micromechanics, and classical lamination theory are all sources of these properties; but when are they valid and what are their advantages, disadvantages, hidden challenges and quirks? When you need nine unique values just to define the elastic response ... Read more

Accurately estimating the cost of manufacturing a composite part is essential to the success of small, medium and large businesses alike; but where should you begin? Many factors such as material and consumable prices, labour cost, purchase and maintenance of equipment and tooling, energy cost, development cost, overhead cost as well as production run numbers ... Read more