Using thermoplastic to make a composite part could reduce manufacturing time by 20-30%. could reduce manufacturing time by 20-30% compared to metals or other polymer materials, according to materials specialist Victrex. ‘The aircraft industry has forecast that over 35,000 new aircraft will be required within the next 20 years,’ it said in a press release. ‘Meeting this kind of escalating demand clearly calls for new approaches and new technologies. As a consequence, thermoplastic composites are expected to play an increasingly important role in accelerating future aircraft construction.’
The company says it is partnering with aerospace OEMs and research centers, using its Victrex AE 250 composites product range and related technology while last year Victrex announced it was investing in a joint venture, TxV AeroComposites, with development partner TriMack Manufacturing, to build the necessary supply chain.
‘Supply chain and capacity are important criteria for increasing the amount of thermoplastic composites in future aircraft programs,’ said Tim Herr, director at Victrex. ‘When using high-performance polymers, the initial costs for thermoplastic composites may be much higher. However, when we consider total costs, the equation immediately looks much different.’
This story uses material fro Victrex,with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.
