Composites Weekly

On this episode Alex Corrêa, CEO of Gerdau Graphene joins me to discuss some of the exciting work they are doing.

Gerdau Graphene, is a company that is working to transform graphene into solutions that will revolutionize industries such as coatings, concrete, elastomers, polymers, and lubricants just to name a few.

Graphene is an ultra-strong, lightweight, flexible, and superconductive two-dimensional nanomaterial formed by carbon atoms in a hexagonal structure.

It is the perfect combination of strength, lightness, flexibility, and transparency, and is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.

With annual revenues exceeding $20 billion, Gerdau is the largest producer of steel in the Americas and employs more than 30,000.

Alexandre Corrêa joined Gerdau in 2020 with the mission of scaling the company's first advanced material spinoff, Gerdau Graphene, where they are focused on graphene application development.

You can learn more by visiting their website at www.gerdaugraphene.com/en.html.

This week Kelsey Britton joins both Andrew Pokelwaldt and myself on the podcast to talk about her background in composites, and the work they are doing at IYRS School of Technology & Trades – a non-profit, post-secondary experiential learning institution in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the premier marine trades and modern manufacturing school in... The post Where Craftsmanship Meets Career – Interview with Kelsey Britton of IYRS School of Technology & Trades appeared first on Composites Weekly.

This week Kelsey Britton joins Andrew Pokelwaldt and me on the podcast to share her background and the work they are doing at IYRS School of Technology & Trades, a non-profit, post-secondary experiential learning institution in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the premier marine trades and modern manufacturing school in the United States.

Kelsey Britton has a passion for designing and building with some of the lightest, strongest materials on earth. Before joining IYRS as an instructor, Kelsey worked for New England Boatworks where she helped build the 62-foot carbon fiber Tripp design racing boat ChessieRacing. On campus, Kelsey is the primary Rhino 3D computer graphics and CAD instructor, teaching students in multiple IYRS programs the software they'll use to design their school and capstone projects. Kelsey uses her knowledge and experience to instruct and guide students as they conceptualize and build composites projects as diverse as miniature working tug boats to high-impact bicycle helmets.

This week, Monica Rommel president of Specialty Materials Inc (SMI) joins me on the podcast show. SMI is the world’s leading supplier of the highest quality Boron and silicon carbide fiber products, and advanced composite materials.  Monica is life long learner who has worked at two aerospace prime contractors as a materials engineer supporting the development... The post Interview with Monica Rommel of SMI – The World’s Leading Supplier of Boron Fiber and Advanced Composite Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.

This week, Monica Rommel president of Specialty Materials Inc (SMI) joins me on the show.

Monica is life long learner who has worked at two aerospace prime contractors as a materials engineer supporting the development of fighter jets, supersonic transports, and satellite payload systems.

She now owns Specialty Materials Inc., the world's leading supplier of the highest quality Boron and silicon carbide fiber products, and advanced composite materials.

Boron fiber is Produced in single-filament reactors by chemical vapor deposition. It exhibits a unique combination of high compression strength, high modulus, and large diameter.

No other composite material has higher compressive strength properties.

This week, I welcome Pierre-Yves Lavertu of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Division on the podcast to discuss how engineers can investigate and predict the behavior of a large mix of composite materials, and how to minimize weight, cost, and time-to-market for composite industrial parts. We’ll also be discussing how to improve the prediction of structural FEA... The post Discussing FEA of Composite Parts with Materials Engineering Expert Pierre-Yves Lavertu appeared first on Composites Weekly.

This week, I welcome Pierre-Yves Lavertu of Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence Division on the podcast to discuss how engineers can investigate and predict the behavior of a large mix of composite materials, and how to minimize weight, cost, and time-to-market for composite industrial parts.

We'll also be discussing how to improve the prediction of structural FEA by accounting for the manufacturing process, as well as how to reduce material testing and prototyping.

This week I'm pleased to have Doug Griffin of Carbon Fiber Recycling back on the show.

Carbon Fiber Recycling is a sustainable materials company, developing and operating technologies for the recovery of resources from difficult to recycle polymer composites. Their special focus is on the extraction of carbon fibers from finished composites, including laminates, trimmings, tooling, R&D, and end-of-life components. The recovered carbon fibers are made available in milled or random chopped form.

This week, Andrew Pokelwaldt, director of certifications for the ACMA joins me to discuss mold and tool care, prep, and setup for FRP composite production.

Andrew will be joining me each month on the show to discuss different topics related to composites training and education.

The ACMA's education hub can be accessed at http://www.acmaeducationhub.org. There you'll find all of the resources your company or organization needs for CCT training & testing, recorded webinars, conference proceedings, ANSI standards and guidelines, regulatory information, customized manufacturing training, and much more.

This week, I welcome two supply chain experts on the podcast to discuss how the Russia-Ukraine Conflict will impact supply chains for our industry as well as other manufacturing sectors.

My first guest is Dr. Ednilson Bernardes. He is a global supply chain management professor and program coordinator at West Virginia University's John Chambers College of Business and Economics. He's an expert in process transformation and supply network innovation.

My second guest is Lee Smith. He's an attorney and leader of Baker Donelson's International Trade and National Security practice. He advises clients on matters involving export controls, supply chain, customs compliance, trade policy, and free trade agreement interpretation.