Victrex introduced right now approval of a brand new unidirectional tape (UDT) – VICTREX AE™ 250-AS4 – by the Nationwide Heart for Superior Supplies Efficiency (NCAMP) to be used in aerospace applications. The mix of the {industry} commonplace HexTow® carbon fiber provided by Hexcel and the brand new, modern thermoplastic resin system from Victrex may be integrated into the manufacturing of composite supplies which will scale back vitality use, lower plane weight, and enhance plane sturdiness.
Picture Credit score: Vicktrex
NCAMP works carefully with the FAA and {industry} companions to qualify materials techniques and populate publicly obtainable databases. These NCAMP databases speed up manufacturing and scale back the prices associated to a typical qualification of composite materials techniques by plane producers. By having an NCAMP-qualified system, suppliers can deliver supplies to market quicker on a bigger scale and assist their end-users attain FAA certification before the everyday certification course of.
The adoption of thermoplastic composites within the aerospace {industry} is on the rise, as a result of advantages from supplies that decrease plane weight and lowered related gasoline burn, whereas offering value financial savings to the airline and decreasing carbon emissions for the surroundings.
Victrex engaged in a course of spanning greater than two years to efficiently qualify VICTREX AE™ 250-AS4 UDT to the NCAMP allowables database. Hexcel has a confirmed document of qualifying composite supplies options by means of NCAMP, and this newly obtainable allowables database allows plane designers to simply undertake an distinctive new composite system answer.
“Having an allowables database is important for entry onto licensed plane,” stated Claire Steggall-Murphy, Strategic Expertise Supervisor, Victrex. “It’s the foundation for structural substantiation and a minimal requirement to produce to prospects who need to design and construct components with our supplies.”
“Hexcel’s unsized carbon fiber is the industry-preferred carbon fiber to be used in excessive efficiency thermoplastic composites,” stated Lyndon Smith, Vice President, Fibers, Hexcel.
We’re happy to have been chosen and congratulate Victrex on receiving this approval.”
Victrex is the inventor and producer of low soften PolyArylEtherKetone (LMPAEK™) thermoplastic polymer. VICTREX AE™ 250-AS4 UDT high-performance thermoplastic carbon fiber composite prepreg tape has a 40°C decrease melting temperature in comparison with commonplace VICTREX™ PEEK. The distinctive mechanical, bodily, and chemical resistant properties of the PolyAryleEtherKetone (PAEK) polymer household make it an impressive mixture of efficiency and processability for aerospace purposes. The decrease melting temperatures of VICTREX AE™ 250-AS4 polymer and the circulate traits additionally improve Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) processability.
VICTREX AE™ 250-AS4 Key Traits
- Decrease soften viscosity than PEEK at soften, permitting for nice processability
- Glorious toughness and fatigue efficiency
- FST (fireplace, smoke, toxicity) efficiency meets recognised {industry} requirements
- Low moisture absorption
- Potential to function at or above glass transition temperature
- Ideally suited to be used in overmoulded components
- Distinctive resistance to chemical substances and solvents
- Floor polymer circulate to facilitate layup welding
- Glorious slitting traits
- Constant thickness and width tolerance metrics
- Lengthy lengths with out splices (>1000M)
- Room temperature storage, no freezer required
