Composites Weekly

This New Composite Heals Itself (1,000 Times)

Self-healing composites have been talked about for years, but sometimes a piece of research comes along that looks meaningfully different. This week, Andy Tomaswick, a science journalist, joins the show to discuss his recent article, “The Composite That Heals Itself 1,000 Times.“ It highlights a self-healing composite material developed by researchers at North Carolina State University that can repair damage repeatedly, over 1,000 cycles. It incorporates a 3D-printed thermoplastic healing agent with embedded carbon-based heaters that, when heated, melt the agent into cracks and restore the composite’s structural integrity. It’s a process that proved effective over many intentional break-and-repair tests. Andy is a writer at Universe Today and has been interested in space exploration ever since reading Pale Blue Dot in middle school. An engineer by training, he likes to focus on the practical challenges of space exploration, whether that’s getting rid of Perchlorates on Mars or making ultra-smooth mirrors to capture ever clearer data. The post This New Composite Heals Itself (1,000 Times) first appeared on Composites Weekly.The post This New Composite Heals Itself (1,000 Times) appeared first on Composites Weekly.

From Scan to Surgery: 3D-Printed Implants for Injured Soldiers in Ukraine

On this episode, Nancy Hairston, CEO of MedCAD joins the show to discuss their innovative approach to the design and production of patient-matched medical devices using additive manufacturing. They’ve recently produced 3D-printed implants for wounded Ukrainian soldiers, an application where speed and accuracy can be life-changing. Their approach is 100% patient-customized, with every implant and every procedure planned and manufactured in-house in cooperation with a patient’s attending surgical team. You can learn more about their company at https://www.medcad.com. The post From Scan to Surgery: 3D-Printed Implants for Injured Soldiers in Ukraine first appeared on Composites Weekly.The post From Scan to Surgery: 3D-Printed Implants for Injured Soldiers in Ukraine appeared first on Composites Weekly.

Discussing the Engineering Boundaries of Additive Manufacturing – Interview with Marty Johnson of 3D Systems

On this episode, Marty Johnson, VP of Product and Technical Fellow at 3D Systems, joins the show to take a clear-eyed look at additive manufacturing materials—what they can do, what they can’t, and what engineers should realistically expect when composites and filled materials enter the 3D-printing conversation. Marty brings a mechanical engineering first perspective to additive manufacturing, cutting through marketing claims to focus on real data, long-term performance, and where printed composite materials truly make sense in aerospace, automotive, tooling, and beyond.  As a company, 3D Systems delivers industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials, and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental, aerospace, space & defense, transportation & motorsports, AI infrastructure, and durable goods. You can learn more about them by visiting https://www.3dsystems.com. The post Discussing the Engineering Boundaries of Additive Manufacturing – Interview with Marty Johnson of 3D Systems first appeared on Composites Weekly.The post Discussing the Engineering Boundaries of Additive Manufacturing – Interview with Marty Johnson of 3D Systems appeared first on Composites Weekly.

Graphene at Scale: How HydroGraph Is Solving Graphene’s Biggest Problem

On this episode, we’re joined by Kjirstin Breure, President and CEO of HydroGraph—a company that may finally be turning graphene from a promise into a product. For more than a decade, graphene has been called a wonder material, but most producers struggled with impurities, inconsistency, and the inability to scale. HydroGraph has taken a different path—developing a proprietary explosion-synthesis process that delivers pure, identical batches of fractal graphene at industrial scale. In just the past year, HydroGraph has moved from lab-driven R&D to real commercial momentum, with dozens of active customer projects across composites, aerospace, medical devices, coatings, and energy storage. With aggressive U.S. expansion underway, growing engagement with federal and defense agencies, and discussions around deeper capital market integration, the company is hitting a rare inflection point.You can learn more by visiting their website at https://hydrograph.com. The post Graphene at Scale: How HydroGraph Is Solving Graphene’s Biggest Problem first appeared on Composites Weekly.The post Graphene at Scale: How HydroGraph Is Solving Graphene’s Biggest Problem appeared first on Composites Weekly.

From Innovation to Industry: A Preview of JEC World 2026 with Thomas Lepretre

On this episode, Thomas Lepretre joins the show to talk about JEC World 2026. Thomas is Vice President of Events, Sales & Operations at JEC Group. We’ll be discussing what’s in store for this year’s big show in Paris, March 10-12. If you plan to attend, don’t forget to use the mobile app, an all-in-one networking tool designed to maximize your experience. You can find it at https://www.jec-world.events/mobile-app. It integrates attendee matchmaking, exhibitor location services, and personalized agenda management. JEC World’s mission is to promote composite materials globally by connecting innovation, business, and applications across all major industries. Featuring ground-breaking solutions, unique manufacturing and business opportunities, JEC World is a networking hub of creativity, vision and action. It shows how composite materials push the limits of your projects and ambitions. You can learn more about this year’s event by visiting https://www.jec-world.events. The post From Innovation to Industry: A Preview of JEC World 2026 with Thomas Lepretre first appeared on Composites Weekly.The post From Innovation to Industry: A Preview of JEC World 2026 with Thomas Lepretre appeared first on Composites Weekly.