SAMPE 2024 Panels – Engaging with the SAMPE Community
Sustainability and Applications of Advanced Materials
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Advanced materials have experienced tremendous growth in recent decades largely based on the performance and production improvements that they impart products. They are common in aerospace, automotive, wind energy and a myriad of other applications. Many industries rely on continuous improvements of materials technologies to meet their product improvement goals. Yet many industries are also balancing the increasing requirements of sustainability for their products. Sustainability across the product development cycle ranging from decreased energy use, increased circularity, and other benefits spanning environment, social and governance. This panel discusses current sustainability activities from an application and OEM perspective and share some of the recent advances, challenges and opportunities experienced. The panel will discuss a shared commitment towards sustainability from the user or OEM perspective, which is anticipated to encourage others to explore and engage in sustainability advances. It will also cover how different parts of the upstream and downstream supply chain with recycling considered as part of that chain can work together towards this goal. If there is time and interest, panel may talk to trends for the future in related topics.
Doing Business in Mexico
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Composite and advanced materials have been present in several industry sectors in Mexico for more than three decades. The Mexican state of Baja California alone imported in 2022 an estimated $190 million USD in composite and related materials, to support the growing trend of its manufacturing base. The aerospace industry in Baja has the largest cluster of world class Tier1, Tier2 and Tier3 corporations that kept expanding since 1966. Advanced manufacturing with sophisticated equipment and talent, is now a reality evolving from basic labor intensive work in the sixties and seventies till now, with aeronautic, defense and space initiatives in joint efforts with Boeing, Airbus, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, NASA, among others. In this panel, experts from industry and academia in Baja California, will share their experience from a Mexican perspective. This panel will voice the challenges they experience in finding suppliers, the right products and the right partners. Moreover, in their view, where are the opportunities and market conditions to succeed in this complex Mexican environment. As per the Academia, is Mexico ready with the right talent in specialty knowledge and skills to tackle the industry demand and expansions plans for the coming years? How are they building the next generation of industry leaders with a global mindset? What type of collaboration Mexican teachers and students are looking with their US peers?
End-of-Life Management for Wind Turbine Blades
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Onshore wind turbine blade decommissioning is projected to rapidly increase globally over the next several decades with an estimate of ~800,000 tons of blade material needing to be managed at end of life (EoL) in 2044. EoL management of wind turbine blades involves decommissioning and disposition which consists of removing the blades from the turbine, preparing the blades for transportation off the wind farm site, and disposition through an EoL pathway such as reuse, repurposing, recycling, or landfilling. With the forthcoming estimates of EoL wind turbine blade material, decommissioning practices and disposition pathways that are cost effective, reduce waste generation, and minimize carbon emissions will become increasingly important. In this session, the current state of wind turbine blade EoL management will be addressed. Additionally, the drivers, barriers, and potential actions and research needed to overcome those barriers for progress toward more sustainable wind turbine blade EoL management practices will be discussed.
Sustainability and Circularity in the Advanced Materials Industry
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Advanced materials have experienced tremendous growth in recent decades largely based on the performance and production improvements that they impart products. They are common in aerospace, automotive, wind energy and a myriad of other applications. The advanced materials community has adapted to requirements other than performance and production, such as cost. Today’s expectations on sustainability usher in a new era where the community will need to draw on innovation and advancements to meet new and evolving requirements. In the past, recyclability was one of the first levers identified; however, circularity offers the most comprehensive approach to improvements in sustainability. This panel discusses current activities positioned to move towards circularity from a materials perspective, and share current approaches to achieve sustainability goals. The panel will discuss a shared commitment towards sustainability and circularity from the material suppliers’ perspective, which is anticipated to generate more interest in innovation and activity in sustainability from others such as academia and other companies. It will also cover how different parts of the upstream and downstream supply chain can work together towards this goal. If there is time and interest, panel may talk to trends for the future in related topics.
Welded Assembly and Repair of Thermoplastic Composites
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 | 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Explore cutting-edge advancements in thermoplastic composite material joining led by subject matter experts in this panel. Delve into the intricacies of molecular dynamic simulations applied to fusion bonding and the certification challenges associated with welded thermoplastic composite assemblies. Immerse yourself in innovative repair methodologies for thermoplastic composites, while gaining valuable insights into the comparative analysis of thermoset bonding versus thermoplastic bonding and welding. Join us for a succinct yet comprehensive discussion on the forefront of composite joining technologies.
Advancing Composite Materials Technology: Bridging Academia, Industry, and Future Engineers for Societal Impact
Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 9:30 am - 11:00 am
In this thought-provoking panel discussion, we’ll not only explore the cutting-edge developments in composite materials technology but also emphasize the critical role of education. Here’s how we’ll connect the threads: 1.Empowering Future Engineers: Discover how universities nurture the next generation of engineers. From specialized coursework to hands-on research experiences, we’ll delve into the educational pathways that prepare students to innovate in the realm of composites. 2.Industry-Ready Graduates: Learn about collaborative efforts between academia and industry to equip students with practical skills. Internships, mentorship programs, and industry-sponsored projects play a pivotal role in shaping graduates who can seamlessly transition into the workforce. 3.Inspiring Curiosity: Explore strategies for igniting passion and curiosity in young minds. Whether through outreach programs, workshops, or interdisciplinary projects, universities contribute to a vibrant ecosystem that fuels innovation. Join us as we unravel the fabric of knowledge transfer, mentorship, and the exciting journey of educating the engineers who will shape our composite-material-infused future.
Zero-Emission Odyssey: Navigating Materials and Process Challenges in Fuel Cells, Electrolyzers, and the Green Hydrogen Frontier
Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Hydrogen has shown great potential to decarbonize transportation, stationary, aviation and some of the industrial sectors. Hydrogen has great characteristics as a fuel because of its high specific energy density, making it desirable for heavy-duty applications. California is leading the charge in terms of its commitment to net-zero emission vehicles by 2035 and with building of hydrogen refueling stations network we will see more of hydrogen fuel cell light and heavy-duty vehicles. Recently, California has been awarded over $1B for the DOE Hydrogen Hub called ARCHES that aims to deploy hydrogen broadly through development of infrastructure. With the existing state commitments and current Hydrogen Hub California is poised to become a world leader in hydrogen technologies. This featured panel provides insights into the state-of-the-art hydrogen technologies such as fuel cells and electrolyzers, their use in various applications and additionally insight into material challenges in terms of recycling and use of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS selected as membranes are currently made out of Nafion, a PTFE based polymer, and there seems to be no alternative to that at this time. The M&P community can participate by proposing advanced materials and process solutions for this challenge.