Boeing, Russell Brands work to put 787 carbon fiber into athletic gear

Excess carbon fiber from 787 Dreamliner production will be used to manufacture Russell Brands’ lightweight, high-strength CarbonTek American football shoulder pads.

Boeing (Seattle, Wash., USA) and Russell Brands LLC (Bowling Green, Ky., USA) announced on Aug. 27 that they are working together to incorporate excess carbon fiber from 787 Dreamliner production in Russell Athletic protective athletic gear.

The companies will expand an initial collaboration that puts 787 carbon fiber into Russell Athletic’s new CarbonTek football shoulder pad system. Boeing and Russell Athletic see significant benefits in using aerospace-grade carbon fiber because the carbon filaments provide a high strength-to-weight ratio and greater durability.

Boeing, which markets surplus factory materials to meet the company’s environmental and business goals, sees more opportunities to repurpose carbon fiber as it increases the use of composites in its commercial airplanes. In addition, Boeing’s new 777X will be the largest and most-efficient twin-engine jet in the world due in part to the industry’s largest composite wing.

READ MORE : http://www.compositesworld.com/news/boeing-russell-brands-work-to-put-787-carbon-fiber-into-athletic-gear