Rail transport occupies an unusual position in the materials conversation. Unlike aerospace, where every gram is tracked with near-obsessive precision, the rail sector has historically been more tolerant of mass. Steel and aluminium have dominated carriage construction for over a…
Structural foam cores have gone through decades of incremental progress. PMI chemistry changed the trajectory entirely — here’s what happened and why it matters for modern composites. Where It All Started: PVC and PET Foams For a long time, sandwich…
For decades, the composite industry relied heavily on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) foams as the standard core material for sandwich constructions. From wind turbine blades to boat hulls, PVC was the go-to solution due to its relatively low cost and decent…
In the high-performance world of advanced composites, carbon fiber is often hailed as the “king of materials.” Its ability to provide immense tensile strength while remaining incredibly light has revolutionized industries from Formula 1 racing to commercial aviation. However, a…
In the landscape of composite material engineering, the selection of a core material is often a trade-off between cost, weight, and performance. For decades, Polyurethane (PU) foams have been the “workhorse” of the industry due to their low cost and…
Structural foam technology doesn’t stand still. While incremental improvements to established materials continue—slightly better properties here, modest cost reductions there—genuine innovation that changes what’s possible in composite design happens rarely. ROHACRYL® represents one of those rare moments. Developed by Evonik…
Material selection in composite engineering has never been straightforward. Every project brings its own matrix of requirements—weight targets, mechanical loads, thermal environments, production volumes, budget constraints—and the “right” material emerges from navigating trade-offs that rarely resolve cleanly. For decades, engineers…
When engineers discuss structural foam cores, the conversation inevitably circles back to a fundamental tension: the desire for low weight pulling against the demand for high mechanical performance. Most foam materials force designers into uncomfortable compromises along this continuum. ROHACELL®…
Technical specifications tell one story about a material’s capabilities. Real-world applications tell another—often more compelling—story about how those specifications translate into solved engineering problems and competitive advantages. ROHACELL® and ROHACRYL® foams from Evonik have accumulated an impressive track record across…
Materials science rarely stands still, and structural foam technology is no exception. The ROHACELL® product family that aerospace engineers specified twenty years ago has evolved substantially, with new grades addressing emerging applications and manufacturing processes. Understanding where this technology is…