On this episode, Professor Shu Yang and Alicia Ng of the University of Pennsylvania join me on the podcast to discuss their latest research work. Their team has successfully developed a cutting-edge method to 3D print cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), opening the door to dynamic, color-changing materials that can respond to mechanical stress.

This work paves the way for groundbreaking applications in smart sensing, displays, and robotics. At the heart of this advancement are CLCEs – soft, rubbery materials capable of changing color when subjected to mechanical stress.

Shu Yang is a materials scientist and Professor of Engineering and Applied Science and Chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania.  Alicia Ng is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and is the lead author of this study.

The post Discussing a New 3D-Printing Method That Enables Color-Changing Stress-Responsive Materials first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Discussing a New 3D-Printing Method That Enables Color-Changing Stress-Responsive Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Dr. Davood Askari joins the podcast to discuss their latest research work. Davood, an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Wichita State University, leads a research team that has created a breakthrough nanocomposite material.

Engineered to significantly enhance the strength, durability, multifunctionality, and performance of lightweight structures, this innovation has broad applications across industries. Their patent-pending technology offers a scalable solution to one of the most persistent challenges in composite design: strengthening weak interlaminar bonds.

The post Wichita State Research Team Advances Composites with Helical CNTs – Interview with Dr. Davood Askari first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Wichita State Research Team Advances Composites with Helical CNTs – Interview with Dr. Davood Askari appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Patrick Egan joins me on the podcast. Patrick is a drone expert with over 25 years of experience in unmanned aircraft and systems, including data collection, safety, RDT&E operations, and systems training course development.

We’ll be discussing some recent news of Cummings Aerospace’s new 3D printed, Hellhound S3 turbojet-powered kamikaze drone, which is said to fly faster than 375 mph. 

The post Discussing 3D Printed Drone Technology with UAV Expert Patrick Egan first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Discussing 3D Printed Drone Technology with UAV Expert Patrick Egan appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, John Kehoe of Boaz Partners joins the podcast to talk about their specialized approach to finding qualified candidates for their clients. 

Boaz Partners is an executive recruitment firm providing companies in the composites and advanced materials industry with custom recruiting solutions. 

Their partners and consultants have extensive experience working in a broad array of functional areas and have also developed unique expertise in recruiting for these types of firms and roles. You can learn more about them by visiting www.boazpartners.com.

The post Recruiting with Precision for Specialized Industries – Interview with John Kehoe of Boaz Partners first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Recruiting with Precision for Specialized Industries – Interview with John Kehoe of Boaz Partners appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Vinit Chaudhary, founder of Elemental Composites, joins the podcast. Elemental Composites specializes in fabricating non-woven intermediates for composite industries. Their innovative process consists of two distinct stages:

(1) Unique Mixing: This process involves the deagglomeration of fiber bundles and the uniform mixing of various types of fibers. 

(2) Dry-laid Technique: The mixing stage material is utilized as feedstock material to transform into nonwoven preforms. 

Vinit earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He brings five years of experience in designing and manufacturing advanced composites to his role, where he focuses on product development and expanding technology applications. 

The post Unlocking the Potential of Natural Fibers – Interview with Vinit Chaudhary of Elemental Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Unlocking the Potential of Natural Fibers – Interview with Vinit Chaudhary of Elemental Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Andres Mitni, CEO and Co-founder of Strong by Form, joins the show. 

This technology company is creating lightweight structural solutions that fuse the sustainability of wood with the performance and productivity of advanced composites. They were a Startup Booster Award winner for Sustainability this year at JEC World.  

Their new Woodflow technology is disrupting lightweight construction and helping diverse industries move towards a more sustainable future.

In nature, trees are high-performance structures. They withstand amazing wind and snow stresses just by having the right form, density, and fiber orientation.

The team at Strong by Form has developed a design-to-manufacturing technology that brings this natural intelligence back to engineered structures.

You can learn more by visiting strongbyform.com. 

The post Unlocking the Power of Natural Wood for Sustainable Composites – Interview with Andres Mitnik of Strong by Form first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Unlocking the Power of Natural Wood for Sustainable Composites – Interview with Andres Mitnik of Strong by Form appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Dan Lee of Perseus Materials joins the show. They were a Startup Booster Award winner this year at JEC World.  They’ve developed a new class of continuous molding with the speed of pultrusion and the adaptability of 3D printing, enabled by proprietary resins and their unique curing behavior.

Their patent-pending process allows mold-less fabrication, making them the “fastest composite manufacturer” in the world.

Their synthetic resins make manufacturing easier, offering capabilities that can be used for making large structures.

You can check out their website at https://perseusmaterials.com. 

The post Where 3d Printing Meets Pultrusion – Interview with Dan Lee of Perseus Materials first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Where 3d Printing Meets Pultrusion – Interview with Dan Lee of Perseus Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Kyle Jordan, director of certifications for the ACMA, discusses the new Basic Composites Manual, which is now available in an enhanced, interactive digital edition. This latest update also includes a refined logo for the Certified Composites Technician (CCT) program, reflecting the program’s refreshed content and commitment to excellence.

You can check out Module 1 for free at www.compositesweekly.com/module1. 

The post ACMA Launches New Basic Composites Manual first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post ACMA Launches New Basic Composites Manual appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Pascal Gallo, co-founder of Composite Recycling joins the podcast to discuss a major sustainability collaboration to push the boundaries of circularity in the marine industry. Industry leaders such as Composite Recycling, Arkema, Groupe Beneteau, Veolia, Owens Corning, and Chomarat have joined forces to revolutionize boat manufacturing with a circular economy model. 

For the first time, boats can be built using recycled and recyclable materials. This pioneering collaboration to achieve circularity in boat production, launched in Western France, offers a scalable model for composite sustainability. You can learn more about Composite Recycling by visiting https://composite-recycling.ch.

The post Discussing a New Circular Manufacturing Model in Boat Manufacturing with Pascal Gallo of Composite Recycling first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Discussing a New Circular Manufacturing Model in Boat Manufacturing with Pascal Gallo of Composite Recycling appeared first on Composites Weekly.

This episode will feature interviews from day 2 at JEC World 2025. 

You’ll hear interviews with:

The post Interviews from JEC World 2025 – Part 2 first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Interviews from JEC World 2025 – Part 2 appeared first on Composites Weekly.