Aerospace
Plastics are used in numerous aerospace applications to improve safety, reduce costs, save fuel
and improve passenger comfort.
Environmental and Safety
Considering the total carbon footprint, including costs of raw materials, manufacture, transport,
fabricate, install, maintain, plastics compare favorably with more traditional materials. Also, plastics
are safer to handle and install. When you consider that most plastics are readily recyclable, they can
become the most environmentally responsible and safest choice for many demanding aerospace
applications.
Applications
- Landing gear components
- Transparency to electromagnetic signals
- Windows, canopies, dust covers
- Interior wall panels and luggage compartments
- Ventilation ducting and seals
- Trays and tray tables
- Pipes and tubing
- Fasteners
- Mirrors
- Wiring conduits
- Bushings and bearings
- Seals
- Collapsible air duct rib
Advantages May Include
- Lightweight
- Reduced maintenance
- Design flexibility (colors, textures)
- Thermoformability
- Corrosion resistant
- Chemical and impact resistant
- Good insulator
- Easily fabricated
- Broad range of being temperature resistant
- Flame, smoke and toxicity resistant
Materials
- Acetal (POM)
- Acrylic (PMMA)
- Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
- Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
- Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)
- Polyamide (PA)
- Polyamide-Imide (PAI)
- Polyarylsulphone (PAS)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
- Polyetherimide (PEI)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyimide (PI)
- Polyphenylene oxide (modified PPO)
- Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS)
- Polytetrafluroethylene (PTFE)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)/Acrylic
- Thermoplastic composites (phenolics)
