JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #80 - April 2013 - 23

Composite manufacturer Hexcel joins Singapore
A*STAR Aerospace Programme Consortium

excel, a leading developer
and manufacturer of composites, has joined Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)
Aerospace Programme (AP).
This announcement was made
during the opening of the Farnborough Air Show 2012.
Initiated in 2007, the A*STAR

he Singapore Institute of
Manufacturing Technology, or SIMTech, is an
A*STAR research institute.
SIMTech focuses on composite
repair issues, e.g. in aerospace,
where the fact that polymeric
composites are a class of materials with a significant role in
current and future aerospace
applications is a given, due to
their exceptional strengths,
stiffness-to-density ratios and
physical properties. The particular problems addressed revolve
around a major challenge in
aerospace applications, which is
how to economically and reliably

Aerospace Programme fosters
synergies between industry
members and its research
institutes, maximizing research
outcomes and stretching the
research dollar for participating
members. Singapore is the largest
manufacturing, repair & overhaul
(MRO) hub for the aerospace
industry in Asia Pacific, holding

It possesses nose-to-tail capabilities that include airframe
maintenance, engine overhaul,
structural and avionic systems repair, as well as aircraft modifications and conversion. As strategic
technology partners within the
A*STAR AP, aircraft manufacturers, engine and component
OEM’s and system providers

restore the design functions of
composite components using
various repair methods, once
these components are damaged.

ite structures.
The substantial economic
growth in South-East Asia has
led to a significant increase in air
transportation, so there will be
no lack of applications for composite repair technology. As this
technology advances, it will also
benefit the automotive industry.

With the increasing use of
polymeric composites in aircraft
components, there is a need to
develop certifiable and costeffective techniques to repair
surface damage. The techniques
must be applicable during aircraft
assembly and while the aircraft is
in service.
SIMTech’s research team focuses
on the development of bonded
patch approaches for reliable
scarf repair of aerospace compos-

Soft, lightweight, flexible composite materials that
harden on impact for use as protective armour

he Institute of Materials
Research and Engineering (IMRE) is a research
institute of the Science and
Engineering Research Council
(SERC) under the Agency for
Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). The Institute
has capabilities in materials
analysis & characterization,
design & growth, patterning
& fabrication, and synthesis &
integration. It houses a range
of state-of-the-art equipment

a quarter of the region’s market
share for MRO activities.

for materials research including development, processing
and characterization. IMRE
conducts a wide range of
research, which includes novel
materials for organic solar cells,
photovoltaics, printed electronics, catalysis, bio-mimetics,
microfluidics, quantum dots,
heterostructures, sustainable
materials, atom technology,
etc. It collaborates actively
with other research institutes,
universities, public bodies, and

In 2011, SIMTech also helped
to organize a composite seminar
entitled “Advances in design
with advanced composites
enabled by multi-scale computed
tomography”. The objective of
this seminar was to highlight the
leading research conducted at
a wide spectrum of industrial
companies, both globally and
locally.

Nanocomposites Centre
The Institute of Materials
Research and Engineering
(IMRE) houses the Nanocomposites Centre. The scope of
the research centre is twofold:
(1) building up the platform
technology in filler dispersion
and fundamental understanding of interface control and
structure-property relationships, and (2) exploiting
the application of nanocomposites in three key thrust areas:
No80 April 2013

can tap into the pool of scientific
know-how, infrastructure and
joint investments in R&D to
optimize business opportunities
and reduce investment costs.
Such collaborative efforts will
also enhance competitiveness of
AP members and the build-up of
aviation capabilities in Singapore. n
More information:
www.hexcel.com

the University of Southampton,
which has provided hitherto unobtainable, quantitative insights
into the key damage mechanisms
affecting the static and fatigue
failure of composite materials.
A vision for the future enhancement of composite design
capabilities was presented. The
seminar was jointly organized
by the British High Commission and A*STAR’s Science &
Engineering Research Council
(SERC). n
More information:
jwei@simtech.a-star.edu.sg

- Extreme applications, e.g.
high-temperature, high-stress
and pressure-resistant materials
for use in extreme environments like the deep sea.
- Health and wellness applications, including food and
pharmaceutical packaging.
- Emerging high-value-added
applications, such as materials derived from biomass,
consumer care, and textile care
products.
www.imre.a-star.edu.sg/page.
php?n=Nanocomposites+Centre
&id=Z531B538Q537

/ jec composites magazine 23

http://www.hexcel.com http://www.imre.a-star.edu.sg/page.php?n=Nanocomposites+Centre&id=Z531B538Q537

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #80 - April 2013

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