The Importance of Composites Used in the Aerospace Industry

Throughout the history of aviation, engineers have constantly looked for newer and better materials to improve upon the performance of aircraft. In recent years, we have seen a major push into the realm of aircraft composite materials which have allowed manufacturers to reduce the weight of structures and overcome engineering barriers. Aircraft composite materials are those that are composed of two or more materials, and they often consist of fibers that are suspended in a matrix of epoxy resin. By recognizing the history, benefits, and challenges of aircraft composite materials, we can best understand the future path of aircraft manufacturing.

The first recognizable instance of composites being used extensively for the manufacturing of aircraft components came during the 1950’s when The Boeing Company used such materials for the Boeing 707 passenger aircraft. Soon after, companies such as Rolls Royce began implementing more aircraft composite materials into their products. As of the 1980’s, composites have mostly been used for specific structures, including areas such as the secondary wing, wing trailing edge panels, and rudders. As aircraft composite manufacturer production and engineering continues to improve, an increasing number of composites are being implemented into the construction of aircraft.

As discussed before, one of the main reasons that composites are gaining traction for structure construction is due to their weight reduction capabilities. With composites, an aircraft can reduce its weight anywhere from 20% to 50%. On top of that, composites prove to provide a greater strength to weight ratio as compared to conventional metallic materials. Composites may also provide for increased integrity of aircraft structures, as such materials tout high impact resistance to mitigate accidental damages. With the addition of high thermal stability, fatigue and corrosion resistance, and ease of assembly, composites are quickly proving to be a great advancement to aircraft due to their many provided benefits.

As reducing carbon footprints and achieving more eco-friendliness is a major growing concern of aircraft manufacturers around the globe, it is a major advantage that composites may be recycled from older, decommissioned aircraft. The Boeing Company is a prime example of this initiative, as they have adopted the recycling of composite materials to aid in environmental concerns. To recycle aircraft composite materials, applicable parts are separated from the structure, salvaged for fibers with high quality, and then used for aircraft composite manufacturer production. While this may seem like a tedious process, it has proven to be cheaper than procuring first-hand parts in some cases.

With the continued rise of fuel prices, reducing weight with composite materials may prove to be the solution for aircraft performance that is highly needed. From current trends on the advancement of aircraft composite materials and their increased implementation, we may see a time soon in which composites become the dominant materials for construction. Before this may come to fruition, however, engineers will have to overcome the barriers of high expenses and the required change in manufacturing infrastructure and machinery to accommodate the production of composites.

When it comes time to begin sourcing aircraft composite parts and other aviation components that you need for your operations, Aviation Axis has you covered with everything you are searching for. Aviation Axis is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor, and we can help you find the aviation, elctronic and NSN parts that you are searching for, new or obsolete. As a premier supplier of parts for the aerospace, civil aviation, and defense industries, we're always available and ready to help you find all the parts and equipment you need, 24/7x365. ASAP Semiconductor is an FAA AC 00-56B accredited and ISO 9001:2015 certified enterprise. For a quick and competitive quote, email us at sales@aviationaxis.com or call us at +44-1420-358043.


Share


Recent Twitter Posts

  Semiconductor's Certifications and Memberships

Thanks for Visiting Us today!

Remember, You Can Get A Competitive Quote for Your Parts Within Fifteen Minutes Or Less, Simply by Filling Out the Instant RFQ form On the Homepage.

Request for Quote

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.