Thermosets are quickly becoming the ideal replacement for traditional materials such as metals and ceramics due to the significant improvement of mechanical properties, performance and cost. The annual Thermoset Conference hosted by the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoset Division unites the entire supply chain from suppliers to material manufacturers and processors. This year’s two-day conference combined technical forums with exhibits and networking opportunities and highlighted modern advancements in material, machine and application technologies.
Held March 21-22 in Phoenix, Arizona, the conference attracted over 150 individuals from all levels of the value chain, from resins and additives to OEMs. IACMI-The Composites Institute had a large presence at the conference, with nearly 15 member companies in attendance, including Ashland, BASF, Composites One, IDI Composites and Owens Corning.
Dale Brosius, Chief Commercialization Officer at IACMI-The Composites Institute, opened the conference as the featured keynote, covering industry challenges and opportunities for thermoset materials in advanced composites. The presentation was focused on the importance of thermoset resins for industry success and challenges such as cure speed, toughness and recyclability. Other esteemed speakers emphasized the property advantages of thermoset composites in varying applications, including automotive and wind energy.
While most composites today remain in fiberglass, the rise of more affordable carbon fiber and advanced material forms will result in increased use of carbon fiber in industrial applications. Learn more about the benefits and expanding importance of thermoset and thermoplastic composites at the SPE Automotive and Composites Conference & Exhibition (ACCE) held September 6-8, 2017 in Novi, Michigan.