12 replies to this topic

[FLB]

Uh... What???

 

https://www.thetruth...-fiber-44513281

 

Apparently, there are EU regulators who wan to add carbon fiber to a hazardous materials list...   

 

https://environment....ife-vehicles_en

Edited by FLB, 16 April 2025 - 12:28.

[Sterzo]

Arch Motors still exist in Huntingdon, England (drove past them two days ago). They could knock us up some space frames or monocoques.

[cbo]

Uh... What???

https://www.thetruth...-fiber-44513281

Apparently, there are EU regulators who wan to add carbon fiber to a hazardous materials list...

https://environment....ife-vehicles_en

I can't really see any proposed ban on carbon fiber mentioned in the proposal for amending the directive...?

Edited by cbo, 17 April 2025 - 10:58.

[cbo]

Apparently, carbon fiber will not be banned..

https://www.motor1.c...nned-in-europe/

[BRG]

Just as well, if they weren't going to destroy Airbus, which are heavily composite these days.

[gruntguru]

Yeah - but they make aeroplanes.

 

Trump is busily handing Boeing sales to Airbus so I think they will be OK for a while.

[BRG]

If the Euro-idiots in Brussels ban carbon fibre, they will hand the sales straight back to Boeing. Or to China.

[cbo]

If the Euro-idiots in Brussels ban carbon fibre, they will hand the sales straight back to Boeing. Or to China.

The talk was about banning carbon fiber in cars because of concerns for health and safety when the spent cars are to be recycled.

Nothing to do with planes.

Edited by cbo, 18 April 2025 - 12:46.

[BRG]

The talk was about banning carbon fiber in cars because of concerns for health and safety when the spent cars are to be recycled.

Nothing to do with planes.

And what do you imagine happens to old planes when the reach the end of their operational life?  They don't shrivel up and disappear.

[Bob Riebe]

The talk was about banning carbon fiber in cars because of concerns for health and safety when the spent cars are to be recycled.

Nothing to do with planes.

Carbon fiber can be recycled , but it is not cheap.

In the U.S. they cannot just put it in a crusher, but then in the future one can envision junk yards full of old car shells that do not rust away.

[gruntguru]

Not cheap, but in the case of a high value item like an airliner, the recycling cost would be a tiny fraction of the lifecycle costs.

 

Looks like it is already happening.

 

 https://www.bing.com...DIwLnBkZg&ntb=1

 

https://www.bing.com...WJpbGl0eQ&ntb=1

[Lee Nicolle]

50 years ago when c/f came into vogue it was even then known to be an issue. Anything that old structurally c/f is very bad news, it deteriates badly. I see old c/f body panels that are coming apart, that after always living in a shed.

Fibreglass and kevlar lasts better but as most have seen the gelcoat cracks and becomes ugly. More so after sitting in the sun for decades.

Composite aeroplanes most defenitly have a use by date, probably about 20 y/o,,when they go to scrap they will have to ride home in a DC3

[BRG]

One of the issues with aircraft is the intense temperature and pressure cycles, something that aluminium probably handles better than c/f as it remains slightly malleable.  C/F is of course far stronger and lighter hence the interest in its aviation application but those cycles will take a toll on the material. 

 

So yes, a metal DC3 has lasted far better than a composite Booing or Hairbrush although any DC3s flying today are something of a Trigger's Broom with most of the components replaced several times over the years..