PEEK AEROSPACE PRODUCTS
Weight reduction parts for the aerospace industry
PEEK Aerospace products.
An alternative to metal.
In the ever-increasing demand for mobility the aviation industry grows significantly. Key innovations within this industry relate to weight reductions resulting in a direct contribution for fuel efficiency. High performing polymers, such as PEEK, contribute to this goal by replacing metals. In average PEEK is 70% lighter then comparable metal parts.
Within this trend 3D printing is a contribution to the opportunity of realizing new products in every stage of the design- or life-cycle. Solutions can be found in a wide range of applications such as cabin interior parts, seating components or structural parts. PEEK aerospace products from Bond3D printing technology will help the aerospace industry to not settle for metal.
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Critical parts made from PEEK for the aerospace industry
View our examples of PEEK parts and applications for the aerospace industry
PEEK high-performance polymer offers huge potential for the aerospace sector.
The PAEK (polyaryletherketone) family of high-performance polymers includes PEEK (polyetheretherketone), which was developed by ICI in 1978. PEEK was quickly identified as a novel polymer with immense potential, and Victrex immediately took on the task of commercializing it. More than 20,000 aircraft already use VICTREX PAEK and PEEK-based technologies, including as pipes, brackets, and thermal acoustic blankets.
For the A350 XWB door, for instance, Airbus used thermoplastic as a primary structural component to increase quality while reducing weight and costs by 40%. In order to protect high-voltage cables in its first commercial aircraft, the C919, COMAC is using VICTREX PIPES rather than metal pipes. PEEK, a relatively new thermoplastic, is being used more frequently in thermoplastic composite solutions for the aerospace industry as we approach its 40th anniversary.
By 2035, the aviation industry estimates that 41,000 new and replacement aircraft will be needed. Thermoplastic composites are anticipated to play an increasingly significant role in accelerating future aircraft construction in order to meet this kind of increasing demand, which obviously calls for new approaches and new technologies.
Comparing thermoplastic composites to their thermoset counterparts, which are currently in widespread use, offers a number of benefits, such as extremely fast production times and low overall costs. A typical VICTREX AE 250 thermoplastic composite part, like a structural bracket, can cut manufacturing time by 20–30% and costs by up to 40% compared to metals or other polymer materials.
After 40 years since the invention of PEEK, innovative VICTREX PAEK thermoplastic polymers are still an active source of innovation. The combination of an inventive VICTREX PAEK polymer and reinforcing carbon fibers offers mechanical properties that are consistent with the requirements for structural aerospace applications.
