Alpine Advanced Materials licenses Lockheed thermoplastic nanocomposite

Alpine Advanced Materials LLC (Alpine; Dallas, Texas, U.S.) recently announced that it has executed an exclusive global license agreement with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (Lockheed; Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.) for the commercialization of Lockheed’s high-performance thermoplastic nanocomposite material HX5 — previously known as APEX (Advanced Polymers Engineered for the Extreme).

Alpine claims that HX5 is ideal for replacement of metal parts in airline interiors, maintaining comparable strength and performance to 6061 aluminum as well as the ability to be post-processed — machined, coated, painted, welded and adhesively bonded — like metal. HX5 can replace metal parts in seats, trays and galleys, where other composites may fall short.

“I’ve been searching for new materials to advance our innovative concepts in the aerospace interiors market for some time,” says customer Adam White, founder of Factorydesign (London, U.K.). “HX5 allows us to create cutting-edge lightweight designs that are a game changer for the industry.”

Alpine sees a huge weight savings potential for replacing aluminum interior components, contributing to significant improvement in airline fuel efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions. “We are bringing revolutionary technology to the commercial sector that will significantly address the greenhouse gas concerns encountered by the aerospace industry”, says Joe D’Cruz, executive chairman of Alpine. “Our target is to reduce carbon emissions of a commercial single-aisle passenger plane by over 600,000 pounds per year.”

Alpine brings HX5 to the commercial aerospace industry through an exclusive license from Lockheed Martin Corp. (Bethesda, Md., U.S.), where the product was designed, tested and proven in the manufacture of components for jet fighters, high-speed helicopters, amphibious transport vehicles, missiles, rockets and satellites.

Lockheed Martin has been working to prove out HX5 — then called APEX — since before 2011. More information can be found in the 2012 Industry Week article “Lockheed Martin Gives Innovation New Wings.”