CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/517026
JUNE 2015 54 CompositesWorld Product Showcase » NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING SOFTWARE Advanced signal analysis/post-processing DolphiTech (Raufoss, Norway) has released DolphiCam Research, a software package for manufacturers and researchers engaged in advanced nondestructive testing (NDT). Built on the DolphiCam Handheld Ultrasound Camera, the new release adds advanced signal analysis and postprocessing functions: Users can now modify pulses, save and postprocess full 2D matrix (124 by 124 element) raw data sets, apply custom flters, and export VTK (Visualization Toolkit) fles to create 3D visualizations in Paraview or compatible software. Features include full DolphiCam camera control and imaging, user-defned pulses, the ability to save raw data (fltered or unfltered) and access and post-process that data, using sample Matlab/Octave scripts and/or using DolphiCam DataAnalyzer software. Separately available, DolphiCam DataAnalyzer software has extended features that further facilitate analysis of ultrasound data from the DolphiCam. These include advanced gating and gate-locking, dataset post-processing, A-scan spectrum, fle averaging and VTK fle export to Paraview or similar. DolphiCam DataAnalyzer is freely available for download at the company Web site. www.dolphitech.com/software » FIBER REINFORCEMENTS Highly aligned flax tapes and NCFs NetComposites Ltd. (Chesterfeld, UK), in collaboration with Tilsatec and FORMAX (Leicester, UK), has developed a highly aligned, fax fber- based tape and noncrimp fabric. The material is said to be suitable for thermoset composite applications and reportedly ofers improved prop- erties compared to conventional woven natural fber-based composite materials. NetComposites says its materials have a higher stifness per unit of weight than similar materials reinforced with glass fber. The material is designed for a range of applications, including automotive, sporting goods and consumer goods. Variants with thermoplastics, such as PLA and polypropylene, and bio-based prepregs, also are under development. www.netcomposites.com » RESIN SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY Marine gel coat HK Research (Hickory, NC, US) has introduced to the marine industry its new ReFlex, part of the company's Revolution series of gel coat polymers, which via a "proprietary grafting technique," have had their molecular makeup "completely re-engineered." As a result, says the company, the gel coat can "fex" thanks to the elasticity of its molecular structure, and it also provides better weathering properties and water resistance than conventional gel coats, but does so at a price competitive with those products, a fact the company considers quite a breakthrough. Although ReFlex is available in a variety of colors, HK Research says it is most often applied in its pure white form. www.hkresearch.com » DESIGN & ENGINEERING SOFTWARE Materials data management tool update Granta Design Ltd. (Cambridge, UK) has released GRANTA MI Version 8.1, software for managing complex, valuable, strategic materials knowledge in engineering enterprises. New features include easy Web-app control over user groups and support for work- fows, such as composites qualifcation. GRANTA MI reportedly enables an enterprise to manage all of its materials data (e.g., from testing, research, QA or design), all relationships between those data and any supporting information. A key feature is access control for diferent user groups; for example, design teams see only data relevant to specifying materials in design; other project data remains within organizational boundaries. This is said to protect intellectual property, ensure regulatory compliance and improve utility. Granta also reports that it is easier to get data into a GRANTA MI database. The MI:Explore web-app interface now supports uploading and editing of data, including drag-and-drop for images. More users can contribute data and more data-entry workfows can be supported. A new, multi-step importer capability also is said to make it easier to get complex data into the system. www.grantadesign.com NEW PRODUCTS