Comparing two composite materials can be confusing. Currently there is no industry standard, some products are sold on a "per pound", others are sold by the "linear yard." Additionally, not all composite materials and fabrics are in the same units of measurements. It can get really confusing, really fast.

For example, imagine trying to compare these two products (note, I made these numbers up as an example):

Hexcel Carbon Fiber Cloth

• 934 grams per square meter
• 50" wide rolls
• $38/linear yard

JB Martin Carbon Fiber Cloth

• 7.4 oz per square yard
• 38" wide roll
• $56/lb

This is darn confusing, but this happens everyday to people in the composites industry. The first thing to do is convert to common units of measurements. Here is the conversion for composite fabrics.

Then, try and figure out what the cost per pound is, so you have an apples to apples comparison.

The other option would be to convert the US over to the metric system, but that is another story...

Every once in a while you hear stories of shootings in office buildings or in places of business. As tragic and rare as these instances are, there is now a way to be prepared if an event like this were to occur.

Armor Dynamics has introduced a "bullet proof mouse pad". The pad has a composite ballistic insert, that is rated to protect up to the National Institute of Justice Level IIIA threat level. Meaning, it is certified to protect from small arms fire such as most handguns or shotguns.

I guess this could give you a little more piece of mind, knowing that if some freak event were to occur, at least you would have a shield near by.

The SAMPE 2011 show will be at Long Beach on the 23-26 this month. This is a great show with a focus on the technical side of advanced composites. Admission to the exhibits is free, so if you are in the Southern California area, you really have no reason not to attend.

There seems to be a handful of really good presentations this year. I am particularly interested in the talks on fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites.

I will be at the show, and will be posting highlights. If any of you will be attending or exhibiting, I would enjoy meeting you. If so, please drop be a note at composite.guide@about.com.

The evolution of wind turbine blades continues. Vestas announced a little over a month ago about their new 7MW wind turbine. The swept area of this bad boy is bigger then a football field. CNN Money has an interview with their CEO discussing this, and it is worth watching if you are interested in wind power.

I cannot imagine the amount of fiberglass, resin, core material, and no doubt carbon fiber that will be required to build one of these blades. But, all it would take is 120,000 of these blades to power the entire USA...