TAGS: Cost Efficiency
Solvay and SGL Carbon have collaborated to develop a new generation of prepregs for aircraft parts while combining mechanical performance and cost efficiency.
For reducing the weight of the aircrafts and the cost of the high performance composite materials, Solvay’s business unit composite materials entered a joint development agreement (JDA) with SGL Carbon in order to “bring to market the first composite material based on large-tow intermediate modulus (IM) carbon fiber,” details Frank Nickisch, product manager at Solvay Composite Materials.
Lowering Cost and Improving Performance
SGL provides the carbon fiber, Solvay the primary structure resin system: “
They had new carbon fiber developments to present, and we found their performances were very interesting,” continues Frank, “
so we started discussing a collaboration.”
The idea was to combine the lower cost of large-tow carbon fiber (produced with a much higher number of filaments – in this case, 50K instead of the standard 12K or 24K – therefore with a higher throughput) with a mechanical performance profile that can meet the needs of the aerospace industry. “
It’s more difficult to obtain demanding mechanical performance with a larger tow carbon fiber,” explains Frank, “
but that’s what we aim to do by optimizing the interaction between the carbon fiber and the resin system. That’s where the novelty of this product resides.”
This is the first time we actively collaborate with a manufacturer to work on the structure of a carbon fiber’s surface and optimize its interaction with our resin systems, says Frank Nickisch, product manager, composite materials, Solvay.
Tackling Aerospace’s Need for Composites
Developing new carbon fiber composite materials is the target of this high-level collaboration between the two companies, a first for Solvay. “
We get standard grade carbon fiber for our prepregs from a variety of suppliers, but this is the first time we actively collaborate with a manufacturer to work on the structure of a carbon fiber’s surface,” confirms Frank.
The reputation of SGL Carbon’s products is strongly established in industrial domains, such as wind energy and automotive manufacturing, “
but they needed a partner with the right capabilities in order to address the aerospace market,” says Frank. And Solvay is always looking to deepen collaborations with partners and suppliers in order to develop products that will better address its customers’ needs; so, it was an ideal fit.
Source: Solvay