JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #72 - April/May 2012 - 37

Aerospace gains with composites
Not surprisingly, the aerospace industry is increasingly adopting the versatile VICTREX PEEK polymers for a range of primary structural applications, including fuselage panels, floor cross beams, fastening systems, fuel tank access panels in wings, door access panels, spars, ribs, stiffeners, clips, brackets and fastening systems. Polymers in the form of powders, films and filaments are used as matrix materials. They are engineered to provide optimum impregnation of the fibre system and to optimise the performance of the fibre-matrix interface. Examples are unidirectional (UD) tapes and sheets, multiaxial fabric laminates, comingled tows and braids. The aim is to manufacture advanced thermoplastic composite prepregs made of continuous carbon, glass, ceramic or aramid fibres which have a great impact in terms of reducing the weight of airplanes without any loss of stability and function. An excellent example of how a VICTREX PEEK composites matrix can reduce weight is in fastening systems. The fasteners can be bolted traditionally, or friction welded directly into other

Victrex PEEK moulded inserts, composite laminate panels, or even PEEK polymerbased honeycomb sandwich structures, providing increased impact resistance and fatigue strength. These composite parts have a higher specific strength and modulus than high-tech aluminium or titanium alloys (see Graph 3).

Conclusion
VICTREX PEEK is a versatile thermoplastic with an excellent set of properties and a wide processing window, allowing the use of a variety of processing techniques for the manufacture of components at a lower cost than would be possible using machined and cast metals. Components made from this polymer are lightweight, allow integrated functions due to greater design freedom, and offer improved safety and longer lifetime compared to metallic parts. VICTREX PEEK polymer provides an excellent combination of properties and numerous benefits when compared with lightweight metal alloys used in aerospace. It is definitely lightweight, with comparative

(or even higher for composite) specific strength and stiffness than many high-tech metals (see Graph 3 & 4), while exhibiting better impact, fatigue, creep and corrosion resistance even at elevated temperatures and being unaffected by many aggressive chemicals. Another important aspect for the aerospace market is the material’s natural and inherent fire resistance and its low toxic gas emission compared with other chemical materials. This polymer also has excellent wear and abrasion resistance, and can damp noise and vibration. Its use lowers component manufacturing costs. In fact, carbonfibre-filled VICTREX PEEK grades and composites, having densities from 1.4 to 1.6 g/cm³, are a minimum of 40% lighter than aluminium and 67% lighter than titanium. VICTREX PEEK grades are aerospace qualified and therefore they are ideal candidates for metal replacement. This enables aircraft manufacturers and suppliers to meet the current eco-efficiency trends and likewise their own objectives of differentiation. n
More information: www.victrex.com

No72 April - May 2012 /

jec composites magazine 37

Feature aerospace

http://www.victrex.com http://www.automateddynamics.com http://www.mccleananderson.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #72 - April/May 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #72 - April/May 2012