Quasi-isotropic braid reduces cost in large composite tooling

Abstract

The National Research Council of Canada - Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics' (HIA) Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) won a JEC Award 2009 in Paris for the "Composite Applications for Radio Telescopes" (CART) project, together with its partner Profile Composites Inc. from Sidney, BC, Canada. Profile Composites chose a hybridized form of A&P Technology's QISO® braided triaxial fabric for the development of its composite tooling, which is ultimately intended for large radio antennae applications. This antennae is about 12 - 15 metres in diameter and requires quasi-isotropic properties over a large, curved surface where dimensional control and heat transfer are critical. The properties that make A&P Technology's QISO® an excellent choice for the fabrication of advanced composite parts in the aerospace, recreation and infrastructure markets, make it an equally superior choice for composite tooling applications.