Making ADVANCED composites

Lockheed Martin Space Systems explores several methods to improve quality and reduce costs.

To remain competitive in the advanced composites market, high quality and cost-effective parts must be manufactured. Because fibers in aerospace composite laminates must be collated to be efficient, a suitable manufacturing process has been slow to develop. Therefore, engineers at Lockheed Martin Space Systems have been studying various composite-manufacturing methods including hand lay-up, filament winding, tape laying, fiber placement, resin-infusion methods (resin transfer molding, vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding, and resin film infusion), and hybrid methods.