Composites Use in Aerospace
Advantages of building aircraft structures with composites, compared to metal, include light weight, high specific strength, superior fatigue properties, damage tolerance and the absence of corrosion. In the 1950s, Boeing began using fiberglass in its 707 passenger jets, and at the time the material made up about 2% of the overall aircraft by weight. Since then, Boeing, Airbus and other aircraft manufacturers have continued to increase this percentage with successive aircraft models. Today’s twin-aisle commercial aircraft such as the Boeing 787, first launched in 2009, and the Airbus A350 comprise approximately 50% composites by weight, largely carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP).
Latest Aerospace Articles
VIEW ALLComposites fabrication, assemblies expertise supports military and commercial space
CAMX 2024: Subsystem provider PCX Aerosystem – Santa Ana highlights its excution of a variety of composite and hybrid composite/metallic programs for aerospace and space customers.
Read MoreMATECH C/ZrOC composite is deployed in hypersonic aeroshells
Ultra high-temperature insulating CMC targets hypersonics, space heat shields and other demanding applications, tested up to 2760°C under extreme stagnation pressures.
Read MoreSirius Aviation debuts hydrogen-powered business jets
More eco-friendly private air travel with modern luxury options is offered through the Sirius CEO-Jet and Adventure Jet, collaboratively developed with BMW Group.
Read MoreSpecialty thermoset resins designed for carbon-carbon composites
CAMX 2024: Kaneka Aerospace is demonstrating its novel diamine-based bis-benzoxazine resins, with features such as high char yield, for use as CFRP thermal protection.
Read MoreFully recyclable sandwich panel targets aerospace cabin interiors
CAMX 2024: Diab introduces sandwich panels that combine its structural foam core Divinycell F and thermoplastic skins, designed to meet current challenges in sustainability, REACH compliancy and more.
Read MoreUltra-light woven reinforcement fabrics enhance space-grade parts
CAMX 2024: TeXtreme is showcasing its TeXtreme 0/90 woven fabrics, demonstrated through customer Kerberos Engineering’s satellite solar array.
Read MoreKnowledge Centers
Explore the cutting-edge composites industry, as experts delve into the materials, tooling, and manufacturing hurdles of meeting the demands of the promising advanced air mobility (AAM) market. Join us at CW Tech Days to unlock the future of efficient composites fabrication operations.
LEARN MORECW’s editors are tracking the latest trends and developments in tooling, from the basics to new developments. This collection, presented by Composites One, features four recent CW stories that detail a range of tooling technologies, processes and materials.
LEARN MOREThe composites industry is increasingly recognizing the imperative of sustainability in its operations. As demand for lightweight and durable materials rises across various sectors, such as automotive, aerospace, and construction, there is a growing awareness of the environmental impact associated with traditional composite manufacturing processes.
LEARN MORELatest Aerospace News And Updates
Velocity Composites achieves recertification globally
AS9100D and AS9120B accreditation across Velocity’s three manufacturing sites in the U.K. and U.S. reinforce quality service to aerospace and defense customers.
Read MoreSpirit AeroSystems enters negotiations with Boeing, Airbus
Airbus is expected to acquire certain Spirit assets that serve Airbus programs, concurrently with the closing of Spirit's acquisition by Boeing.
Read MoreRock West sandwich panels support high-power Astro Digital satellites
RWC built and delivered solar array substrate panels from trace/lead-integrated skins that enable direct integration with solar cells, saving weight and time.
Read MoreFACC equips 2,000th Airbus aircraft with Sharklets
Eight-foot-high composite components furnish the Airbus A320 Family, enhancing fuel efficiency via their biomimetic design.
Read MoreElectra’s Goldfinch proves eSTOL capabilities in piloted test flights
Information gained from the flight test program will inform the design of Electra’s nine-passenger commercial eSTOL aircraft, with entry into commercial service targeted for 2028.
Read MoreOVERLEAF tackles thermoplastics, open cell insulation, sensors and testing for LH2 tank
Newsletter #4 gives latest status on EU project’s work toward thermoplastic composite tanks with 40% storage density of cryogenic hydrogen for future zero emissions aircraft.
WatchFeatured Posts
Achieving composites innovation through collaboration
Stephen Heinz, vice president of R&I for Syensqo delivered an inspirational keynote at SAMPE 2024, highlighting the significant role of composite materials in emerging technologies and encouraging broader collaboration within the manufacturing community.
Read MorePlant tour: Aernnova Composites, Toledo and Illescas, Spain
RTM and ATL/AFP high-rate production sites feature this composites and engineering leader’s continued push for excellence and innovation for future airframes.
Read MoreAernnova Composites, leader in composites R&D
This sidebar to CW’s July 2024 feature article reviews the company’s achievements and capabilities through years of composites R&D programs.
Watch“Structured air” TPS safeguards composite structures
Powered by an 85% air/15% pure polyimide aerogel, Blueshift’s novel material system protects structures during transient thermal events from -200°C to beyond 2400°C for rockets, battery boxes and more.
Read MoreThe next-generation single-aisle: Implications for the composites industry
While the world continues to wait for new single-aisle program announcements from Airbus and Boeing, it’s clear composites will play a role in their fabrication. But in what ways, and what capacity?
Read MoreKVE Composites: New CEO, thermoset parts, thermoplastic future
Longtime parts manufacturer offers more than composites welding. CW’s conversation with CEO Kjelt van Rijswijk explains KVE’s vision with Daher and where it’s headed.
Read MoreFAQ: Aerospace
How are composites used in aerospace structures?
Since the 1950s, composites have been growing in use in commercial and defense aircraft, ranging from struts and tail components, to wing skins and fuselages, to engine components and propeller blades.
One of the largest challenges to adoption of composites by the aerospace industry is stringent standards especially for safety critical structures, necessitating time- and labor-intensive processes to qualify new materials for use on passenger aircraft.
Qualified and well-tested autoclave-cured carbon fiber and thermoset-based prepregs are most often used for many structures, though other materials and formats, including thermoplastic tapes, are also in development or use.
How are composites used in space structures?
At the time the Apollo capsule, which landed on the moon in 1969, was built by NASA, composites industry was still in its infancy and the materials were not yet in widespread use, though the Apollo capsule used early composite technology in the form of an ablative heat shield made from Avcoat, an epoxy novolac resin with silica fibers in a fiberglass-phenolic honeycomb matrix. A fiberglass honeycomb was bonded to the primary structure and the paste-like material was injected into each cell individually.
Since Apollo, advanced composites have evolved by leaps and bounds, and have played a significant role in space programs with use in launch vehicles, the space shuttle, satellites, space telescopes and the International Space Station.
Source: Composites in the race to space