Atomic-6 also just launched ODC.space, the world’s first marketplace that allows customers to spec, price, and order orbital data center capacity without building their own satellite systems.

Learn more about them at https://atomic-6.com.

The post From Composite Space Armor™ to Orbital Data Centers: Interview with Trevor Smith, founder of Atomic-6 first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA), led by the European Composites Industry Association (EUCIA), brings together material suppliers, manufacturers, recyclers, and end users to tackle the challenges that have historically limited composite recycling. A key focus of the initiative is advancing the use of recovered and recycled carbon fiber in aerospace and defense applications, where maintaining material performance and maximizing fiber value are essential to achieving circularity at scale.

You can learn more by visiting https://advancedmaterials.jamescropper.com/journal/james-cropper-and-hexcel-collaborate-through-ecca-to-advance-aligned-composite-recycling-solutions/. 

The post Advancing Circular Composites: How James Cropper and Hexcel Are Driving Recycling Innovation Through the ECCA first appeared on Composites Weekly.

Founded in 1987, SCI specializes in engineering, testing, prototyping, and manufacturing advanced composite structures. They’ve spent decades advancing composites across defense, marine, transportation, and industrial markets.
You can learn more about SCI by visiting https://structuralcomposites.com.

The post Inside the $9 Million FRP Sector Gate Project: Interview with Scott Lewit and Joni Richards of Structural Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.

With nearly 20% of the world’s oil and a significant share of polyethylene, polypropylene, and key chemical feedstocks moving through this critical chokepoint, disruptions are already driving price volatility, supply shortages, and shifting sourcing strategies.

On this episode, I have two guests joining me to discuss the impact on supply chains: 

Dawn Hersey, Ph.D., is a combat veteran and subject matter expert in resilience, stability, and conflict. She owns Ferndon Consulting, an Intelligence firm. Her expertise is in international conflict, geopolitical dynamics, and predictive analytics.

David Eyes is an automotive supply chain expert with 25 years of experience, working closely with complex manufacturers and auto suppliers on supply chain risk. David is VP of Automotive at TrueCommerce.

The post The Strait of Hormuz Conflict and the Future of Global Supply Chains first appeared on Composites Weekly.

Bruce spent more than 45 years in structural engineering, working on everything from high-rise buildings to resort projects, before shifting his focus toward a bigger question: how do we build in a way that works with nature instead of against it?

Today, Bruce’s work spans everything from straw composites and low-carbon concrete to emerging bio-materials like mycelium, bacterial cellulose, and algae-based construction systems.  You can find some of his videos at https://buildwell.site.

The post Beyond Concrete: Bio-Composites, Algae-Based Cement, and New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture first appeared on Composites Weekly.

His expertise spans additive manufacturing, automation, robotics, advanced materials, and mission-critical manufacturing operations, giving him a unique perspective on where U.S. manufacturing is headed next. 

You can learn more about Fathom by visiting https://fathommfg.com. 

The post AI, Automation, and the Future of U.S. Manufacturing: Interview with Rush LaSelle first appeared on Composites Weekly.

You can learn more about these CCT training programs by visiting https://acmanet.org/education/certified-composites-technician-program. 

ACMA’s Thermoplastic Composites Conference (TCC) 

ACMA’s Thermoplastic Composites Conference (TCC) is an insightful and collaborative event that focuses on innovations, applications, and technology in high-performance thermoplastic composites. The conference will bring together over 200 industry leaders and professionals, providing an excellent networking opportunity for attendees to connect with like-minded individuals and build meaningful relationships with others in the field. You can register today by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/TCC26.

The post The Future of Composites Workforce Training – Updates from Kyle Jordan of ACMA first appeared on Composites Weekly.

Anna has served as a Program Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), where she led the Small Business Innovation Research portfolio focused on Space Tech, Energy, Chemical, and Environmental technologies. During her tenure, Anna invested and managed over $250M in grants to early-stage, high-impact startups. 
You can learn more about their company by visiting them at https://deeptech1.com.

The post Funding Innovators in AI & Deep Tech: Interview with Anna Brady-Estevez first appeared on Composites Weekly.

Collaborating with the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at UMaine, their team has established a pilot-scale production line for this material, which features compressive strength greater than concrete and flexural strength surpassing eastern white pine lumber. From a sustainability perspective, the composite has the potential to replace single-use plastics in applications where the item needs to maintain structural integrity for a short period and then biodegrade rapidly at the end of life.

Team NRG’s recent work is moving them towards the ultimate goal of using the composite to construct temporary disaster shelters. 

The post A Biodegradable Structural Composite Made from Lobster Shells? first appeared on Composites Weekly.

In this episode, we’ll explore what it really takes to build a sustainable marine industry and where the biggest opportunities lie.

The post Redefining Marine Composites Lifecycle: A Closer Look at the MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator Program first appeared on Composites Weekly.

We also unpack the results from exposure on the International Space Station (ISS), where these composites were subjected to the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit for several months. Dr. Ishida explains how surface-level oxidation occurred without compromising bulk mechanical properties such as strength, density, and glass transition temperature.

The discussion highlights what these findings mean for long-duration missions and the future of spacecraft design, where materials may serve both as structure and protection. Looking ahead, we examine the remaining challenges in scaling these materials for deeper space environments and what it will take to validate them for missions beyond Earth orbit. You can read about their research at https://www.scribd.com/document/952673614/s42114-025-01451-6

The post ISS Tested Composites for Low Earth Orbit and Deep Space Travel first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The result is a highly water-resistant surface with contact angles approaching 140° and significantly reduced water absorption, pointing to a viable path toward replacing traditional plastic-based barrier coatings. We’ll discuss how the material works at a structural level, what it takes to scale a growth-based process, and where this material could be used first. 

You can learn more about their research at https://umaine.edu/news/2026/02/researchers-use-fungus-to-create-plastic-free-food-packaging/

The post Bio-Derived Barrier Coatings: A New Frontier in Sustainable Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.