composite materials

The Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator (MFFD) program was conceived in 2014 as one of three large aircraft demonstrators within the EU-funded Clean Sky 2 (CS2) initiative (now Clean Aviation) aimed at advancing innovative technologies, aircraft sustainability and a competitive supply chain in Europe. When disseminated in 2017, the MFFD program goals were ambitious: Build an 8-meter-long, 4-meter-diameter fuselage section fully from carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer (CFRTP) composites to enable production of 60-100 aircraft/month with a 10% reduction in fuselage weight and 20% cut in recurring cost. By the project’s end in 2024, overall technology readiness level (TRL) for such a fuselage will be advanced to TRL 5. From 2017-2019, Airbus Research & Technology (Bremen, Germany), as the MFFD project leader, issued 13 CS2 calls for proposal CfP07–CfP11 for work topics such as automated assembly plant for a thermoplastic fuselage, micromechanics of welded joints, novel t...

TISICS, a leading metal composites company, is making significant strides in the commercial aviation sector by unveiling its groundbreaking innovation – Light Land: lightweight landing gear for commercial aircraft. This innovative endeavour will deliver CO2 savings by 2030, helping to propel the industry toward its ambitious goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Currently, aircraft are made of 50% metal components, but TISICS is creating an industrial evolution by offering a sustainable alternative. By replacing these metal components with TISICS’s lightweight and high-strength metal composites, the aviation industry can pave the way for a future where every aircraft is lighter and more fuel-efficient. Developed as part of a project backed by £2.5 million in Research and Development funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and Innovate UK, in collaboration with Safran Landing Systems – the world leader in aircraft landing and braking systems – Light Land is the world’s l...

  Composite materials are engineered materials made from two or more constituent materials with significantly different physical or chemical properties. The combination of these materials creates a new material with enhanced properties that are not present in any of the individual components alone. The importance and applications of composite materials are widespread across various industries due to their unique characteristics. Here are some key aspects Importance of Composite Materials 1. High Strength-to-Weight Ratio Aerospace Industry Composite materials, such as carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP), are crucial in aerospace applications where lightweight materials with high strength are essential for fuel efficiency and overall performance. 2. Durability and Corrosion Resistance Marine Industry Composites are used in boat hulls and components due to their resistance to water damage, corrosion, and durability in harsh marine environments. 3. Flexibility in Design Automotive ...

The main function of reinforcement agents is to provide strength to the composite structure. Based on reinforcement composites are classified into three types: Fibre Reinforced composites Laminar composites Particulate composites Fibre reinforced composites are, further, classified into composites reinforced with short staple fibres or with continuous filaments. The laminar composite consists of a varying number of layers of reinforced material with the matrix. Particulate composites are manufactured using particles, in the form of flakes or in powder dispersed in a matrix. 1. Fibre Reinforced Composites In fibre reinforced composites, natural or synthetic fibres are used as reinforcing materials in different forms and architectures. In these composites, fibre acts as the main load-bearing component. Fibre structure, length of the fibre, and fibre orientation towards applied load decide the performance of the composite. These types of composites are lightweight yet durable and rigid. ...