Advertise on podcast: Composites Weekly

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-69dda32d-eb0c-832a-954a-163d5a618519-4" data-testid= "conversation-turn-16" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> On this episode, Professor Hatsuo Ishida, PhD of Case Western Reserve University, joins the show to discuss the development of next-generation composite materials engineered for deep-space travel. He shares the origin of their work with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with hydrogen-rich polybenzoxazine resins, and how these materials have been engineered into composites that integrate structural performance with radiation attenuation. We also unpack the results from exposure on the International Space Station (ISS), where these composites were subjected to the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit for several months. Dr. Ishida explains how surface-level oxidation occurred without compromising bulk mechanical properties such as strength, density, and glass transition temperature. The discussion highlights what these findings mean for long-duration missions and the future of spacecraft design, where materials may serve both as structure and protection. Looking ahead, we examine the remaining challenges in scaling these materials for deeper space environments and what it will take to validate them for missions beyond Earth orbit. You can read about their research at https://www.scribd.com/document/952673614/s42114-025-01451-6

On this episode, researchers Caitlin Howell and Mehdi Tajvidi from the University of Maine join the show to discuss their research in developing a fully bio-derived composite coating that is grown, not manufactured. By combining edible fungal mycelium with cellulose nanofibrils, they have developed a barrier coating that can be formed directly on paper and textiles through a low-energy process. The result is a highly water-resistant surface with contact angles approaching 140° and significantly reduced water absorption, pointing to a viable path toward replacing traditional plastic-based barrier coatings. We'll discuss how the material works at a structural level, what it takes to scale a growth-based process, and where this material could be used first. You can learn more about their research at https://umaine.edu/news/2026/02/researchers-use-fungus-to-create-plastic-free-food-packaging/

On this episode, Teong Tan, Arclin's Chief Research Officer joins the podcast to discuss Arclin's $1.8 billion acquisition of DuPont's aramid business, adding the iconic Kevlar® and Nomex® brands to its portfolio. Teong leads the company's innovation agenda with a focus on strategic growth, talent development, and high-performing teams. 

On this episode, John Kehoe of Boaz Partners joins the show. Boaz isn't your typical recruiting firm—they operate as strategic partners, using a proven, deeply embedded process to understand business goals, culture, and long-term objectives before ever presenting a candidate. It's a fundamentally different approach to hiring—one that's built around precision, alignment, and impact. In this conversation, we unpack what separates great hiring organizations from the rest, why so many companies struggle to attract and retain top talent, and how a more disciplined, strategic recruiting process can become a true competitive advantage—especially in niche industries like composites. You can learn more about their company and access their latest ebook, called The Talent Formula, by visiting https://boazpartners.com/advancedmaterials. 

On this episode Aaron Fitzgerald, CEO of Mars Materials, joins the show. Carbon fiber has long been a cornerstone of aerospace and defense—but the reality is, the supply chain behind it is anything but secure. Today, much of the world's high-performance carbon fiber depends on globally concentrated precursor production, leaving critical industries exposed at a time when resilience matters more than ever. But what if you could rethink carbon fiber from the ground up—making it not only domestically sourced, but actually carbon-negative… and still capable of meeting the demands of fighter-jet-grade applications? That's exactly what Mars Materials is setting out to do with their breakthrough product, Hoigen-C. By leveraging what they call an "impurity-advantaged" approach, they're challenging long-held assumptions about how carbon fiber precursors are made—while building a pathway toward localized, scalable, and strategically resilient supply chains. Recent validation work with researchers at North Carolina State University has put Hoigen-C through the kind of rigorous testing required for some of the most demanding composite applications. So today, we're going to unpack what this really means—for performance, for sustainability, and for the future of industrial resilience.  

On this episode, Krishnan Veluswamy, Ph.D., joins the podcast to discuss the upcoming Demo Day at Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility (FCMF). Krishnan is an Assistant Professor, Mechanical, Aerospace & Biomedical Engineering Department and Affiliated with Fibers and Composites Manufacturing Facility, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. This upcoming event on Wednesday, March 25th, will provide an opportunity to see the facility in operation through live machinery demonstrations and cutting-edge manufacturing technologies led by the facility's undergraduate and graduate student researchers and staff.  

On this episode, we're looking at a project that could say a lot about where advanced manufacturing is headed next. America Makes has awarded UDRI $450,000 for its AACAMS (Affordable and Agile Composite Additive Manufactured Structures) project, focused on pushing forward the integration of additive manufacturing and advanced composites for aerospace and defense. The DOD has prioritized continuous fiber additive manufacturing (CFAM) for its ability to produce strong, lightweight parts by reinforcing polymers with continuous carbon or glass fibers for high-performance applications. Steven Floyd and Clark Patterson join the show to discuss the details of the project. You can learn more by visiting https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=gGWnnqHHCUCj4FsTAqdg5koHgAfVuEJJoOmkPSbaEpVUREhPRlVXSEhKTE5ZNk9VMzJPQkdOS05TVC4u. 

On this episode, we feature more interviews from the 2nd day of JEC World 2026. These include a mix of Innovation Award winners, and Startup Booster finalists. 

On this episode, we feature several interviews from day one of JEC World 2026, including some Innovation Award winners, and Startup Booster finalists. 

On this latest episode, Lisa Anderson, President of LMA Consulting Group joins the podcast. Lisa is one of the most respected voices in manufacturing strategy, supply chain transformation, and SIOP. She's the author of a recently released book titled AI & Advanced Technologies in Manufacturing, where she explores how manufacturers are using AI and advanced analytics to drive real, measurable results—from demand forecasting to optimized production planning. She'll be sharing how AI is actually improving manufacturing supply chains, where companies are seeing real value versus hype, and what leaders need to get right to turn technology into predictable performance. You can learn more about her company at https://www.lma-consultinggroup.com.     

On this episode, Bryan Hassin, CEO of DexMat joins the show to discuss Galvorn - a next-generation conductive material designed for high-performance, weight-constrained applications across aerospace, defense, automotive, and data infrastructure. Their latest funding marks a transition point for the company, from deep materials R&D into production scale and customer qualification. Bryan has spent his career working at the intersection of lab innovation and manufacturing reality. You can learn more about Galvorn at https://dexmat.com/why-galvorn. 

Self-healing composites have been talked about for years, but sometimes a piece of research comes along that looks meaningfully different. This week, Andrew 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.   

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 3D printing. 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. 

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.  

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.