Composites Weekly

On this episode, Xuan Song, PhD joins me to discuss his research in additive manufacturing. Dr. Song is an Associate Professor and James A. Chisman Faculty Fellow in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Iowa.

His research focuses on studying how material forming processes found in nature can be leveraged to enable sustainable, ultra-low-temperature additive manufacturing (AM) of novel ceramics and composites. He is a recipient of multiple awards including the NSF CAREER award in 2023, the AFOSR Young Investigator award in 2024, the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer award in 2022, and the College of Engineering Early Career Faculty Excellence award at UIowa in 2023.

He received his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wuhan University, master's degree in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University, and PhD degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern California.

https://am.lab.uiowa.edu/personnel/xuan-song.

On this episode Jesse Henry, CEO of Heartland joins us to share some recent news. Chemovator, the business incubator of BASF, has successfully finalized an investment in their company. Heartland is a material science company that provides manufacturers with a sustainable source of additives like fillers, reinforcements, & mineral extenders to enhance products they already make. They work with local farmers to produce natural fiber materials, enabling manufacturers to create more sustainable products.

With this investment funding, Heartland becomes Chemovator's first portfolio company in North America. Jesse will be sharing an update on Heartland, and what this investment means for their company moving forward.

On this episode, Tom Barnes joins me to discuss how their company is redefining the way the world views pickleball. Selkirk Sport was founded in 2014 and is the leading manufacturer of pickleball paddles and equipment.

To help drive innovation, Selkirk Sport created Selkirk Labs, a first-of-its-kind program, that invites players to be part of the innovation process. Members of Selkirk Labs get first access to test paddle prototypes. Using their feedback and A.I. programming, their engineers tweak the prototypes to better suit players' needs before adding the paddles to their main line, which is made entirely in the U.S.

Tom is a co-owner and the director of research and development for Selkirk Sport. The company was founded while Tom was serving in the Marine Corps and after transitioning into the USMC Reserves, Tom was excited to join his brothers.

Now, Tom infuses his passion for technology and advanced manufacturing into developing new materials, equipment and manufacturing approaches for pickleball. Tom is dedicated to developing a world-class R&D ecosystem,coupled with a lean manufacturing approach to elevate Selkirk's innovation and production standards.

You can learn more about their company by visiting https://www.selkirk.com.

On this episode, John Schweitzer and Kyle Jordan of the ACMA join me to discuss a couple of topics. John will be discussing the ACMA's Composites Sustainability Conference coming up June 4-6 in Denver, CO.

You can learn more about this event by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/csft24.

Kyle Jordan will be giving an update on the CCT Instructor Course that took place earlier this month in Kansas City, and explain what new instructors can do with the designation.

On this episode, Markus Buehler, McAfee Professor of Engineering at MIT joins me to discuss how they are using machine learning to create stronger materials.

For engineers developing new materials, there are billions of different possibilities to sort through. Lab tests & detailed computer simulations to determine their exact properties can take hours, and even days for each variation. Now, a new artificial intelligence-based approach developed at MIT could reduce that to a matter of milliseconds.

Markus discusses their new course on Predictive Multiscale Materials Design. In this course, you will enhance your ability to leverage materials design, machine learning, and additive manufacturing to create better materials.

You can register at: https://professional.mit.edu/course-catalog/predictive-multiscale-materials-design

On this episode, Mark Scott and Jake Rowen of Resodyn join me to discuss their RAM acoustic mixing technology. They are a global leader in mixing and processing solutions.

Mixing is a key processing step in nearly every industry from lubricants to ceramics.

Traditionally, mixing has been accomplished using motor-driven impellers, blades and other engineered devices that rotate or agitate the ingredients. These methods, however, present several challenges including degradation of particles during mixing, non-uniform and inconsistent mix quality, and extended mixing times.

Fortunately, a new and innovative technology solves many of the problems that plague traditional mixers.

RAM combines the efficient power generation of resonance and the effects of sound energy to facilitate mixing – without the use of mechanical means within a mixing vessel.

Since 1994, Resodyn Corporation has built a legacy of facing down tough global problems with disciplined science and engineering, spanning numerous fields of study.

Their innovative process and product design approach have turned many of those discoveries into commercial product successes.

You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://resodynmixers.com.

This week Sebastian Pohlmann of UP Catalyst joins the podcast to discuss the world's first scalable technology for utilizing industrial CO₂ emissions. Their Carbon Nanotubes are directly produced from CO₂ emissions via molten-salt carbon capture and electrochemical transformation.

Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) can enhance the mechanical properties of composite materials - improving the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and impact resistance.

You can learn more about UP Catalyst by visiting https://upcatalyst.com.

On this episode, Blair Robbins joins me on the show to discuss the closure of the Port of Baltimore, and how it might impact supply chains for our industry.

Blair is a partner in the Transportation and Logistics Group at EisnerAmper, and has nearly 30 years of experience helping companies cope with supply chain issues, and challenges in inventory management due to disruptions from the pandemic to infrastructure damage and natural, disasters, labor shortages, and terrorism.

You can learn more by visiting https://www.eisneramper.com/transportation-and-logistics.

On this episode, Paul Gloyer, the president of GTL, (Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories, Inc.) joins me to discuss recent news involving validation test results from their LH2 Liquid Hydrogen Composite Dewar-Tanks for Aviation Applications.

GTL is an aerospace engineering research and development company headquartered in Tullahoma, TN with a second office in California. They specialize in providing transformational technologies to the aerospace and defense industry.

They've won numerous development contracts with NASA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Navy, and others.

Paul has 25 years of experience delivering technical solutions to solve the aerospace industry's most challenging problems. He has led efforts to develop a wide variety of aerospace systems including the PA-X suborbital rocket, the SPORT orbit transfer vehicle, and the Encounter solar-sail craft.

You can learn more about GTL by visiting https://www.gtlcompany.com.

On this episode, Florence Moreau of TeXtreme joins me to discuss their new TeXtreme 360°. It belongs to a new class of composite materials called tape-based Discontinuous Fiber Composites (DFCs), combining in-plane isotropy, high strength and stiffness, and enhanced manufacturability.

This new class of composite materials is an alternative to traditional metal alloys and continuous fiber composites, unlocking new possibilities across a wide range of applications.

Textreme has established itself as the market leader in spread tow thin-ply carbon reinforcements. Introduced to the market in 2005, it was quickly recognized in high-performance sports applications where customers valued its low weight and high performance.

You can learn more about the TeXtreme 360° by visiting https://www.textreme.com/product/45/360.