CompositesWorld
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NEWS 49 CompositesWorld.com Thermoplastic Composites a thermoplastic aircraft fuselage structure and a thermoplastic torsion box (for tail and wing structures). Under assessment is a TenCate UD tape comprising Hexcel (Stamford, CT, US) AS4 carbon fiber and a PEKK matrix from Arkema (Colombes, France). TAPAS work was divided into two programs, TAPAS I and TAPAS II, with the latter nearing conclusion (see Learn More). Offringa says the TAPAS work has proven the potential of thermoplastic tapes, particularly in fuselage skins, engine pylons, small wings (see Learn More) and tail structures. "Materials are being qualified, processes are being qualified. ese are not huge parts per se, but parts that increase the size and volume," he says. Looking further ahead, he says, "A breakthrough is possible at one of the OEMs to decide to really move into a significantly larger thermoplastic part." Solvay's Pratte agrees: "Small parts have taken off and built the confidence and maturity. Customers are starting to look at it for larger parts." To help drive that effort, Solvay and GKN Aerospace Fokker announced in early 2017 that they will cooperate on thermoplastic compos- ites development, and Solvay will become a preferred supplier to the aerospace fabricator. e Fundacion para la Investigacion, Desarrollo y Aplicaciones de Materiales Compuestos (FIDAMC, Madrid, Spain), also is assessing application of thermo- plastic tapes via out-of-autoclave in-situ fiber placement to manufacture wing and fuselage structures (see Learn More). Fernando Rodríguez Lence, FIDAMC's senior composites expert, says tape quality is a major limitation, forcing slower laydown rates to compensate for tape flaws and achieve consolidation targets: "I trust that our material suppliers are going to improve tape quality, boosting properties to be similar to autoclaved parts, and solving the need for post-processing." If, as is widely assumed, either Boeing or Airbus makes the decision to fabricate primary structures using thermoplastic tapes, it is likely that resources will quickly be deployed to iron out tape quality issues. Indeed, much of the tape development done during the past 10-15 years has been initiated and funded by material suppliers and fabricators. Such work has been prom- ising, but limited. e effort and money that comes with an OEM commitment would change the thermoplastic tapes landscape considerably. So, for that 2018 college graduate contemplating his or her future, there is new advice: "I want to say two words to you. Just two words … thermoplastic tapes." Jeff Sloan is editor-in-chief of CompositesWorld, and has been engaged in plastics- and composites-industry journalism for 23 years. jeff@compositesworld.com Working with Composites One gives you access to the broadest, deepest line of traditional and advanced composites PRODUCTS available – from raw materials, resins and reinforced plastics, to advanced fibers and high-performance solutions – from the industry's top suppliers. Helping you navigate this one-stop-shop and make sure you get what you need, when you need it are technical sales experts and regional customer service reps, along with local support teams at more than 37 distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada. All are backed by the service and support that only North America's leading composites distributor can provide. That's the power of One – Composites One. 800.621.8003 | www.compositesone.com | www.b2bcomposites.com People | Product | Process | Performance See us at Booth # 826 during AeroDef 2018 in Long Beach, CA, March 27-28. "With the broadest and deepest product line, along with the largest dedicated fleet of trucks in the composites industry, Composites One's priority is to make sure you have what you need, when you need it." Laura McClain, Distribution Center Manager, Lenexa, KS