Structural component for an airplane seat («J-hook»)
The aircraft industry prevails the highest requirements for installed materials: Low weight, high mechanical properties, fatigue resistance as well as stringent FST requirements are mandatory.
Aircraft interior applications often see the use of glass fibre reinforced polyetherimide (PEI). PEI as a polymer fulfils all the FST requirements (according to AITM 2.0002B). PEI coupled with a woven glass fabric creates a light, stiff and strong composite material. This can be used in plenty of applications such as structural parts for aircraft seats.
A safe and light solution for aircraft interiors
TECATEC PEI GW50 natural is a glass fibre reinforced polyetherimide (PEI) which is perfectly suitable for applications within the interior of an aircraft. Additional applications in other fields such as mass transportation are those where high requirements for fire protection are expected.
PEI is a thermoplastic high-performance polymer offering very good mechanical properties such as Young's Modulus and strength, and at the same time a high continuous service temperature (in excess of 170 °C) and a good creep resistance over a broad temperature range. Additionally, PEI offers good electric insulation and good chemical resistance against chlorine, acids and bases. A continuous glass fibre reinforcement dramatically improves the mechanical properties compared to short fibre reinforcement over a factor 5, thus enabling manufacturing of structural parts.
A thermoplastic composite material based on PEI reinforced with continuous fibres fulfil all the requirements for a utilisation within aerospace and mass transportation. Parts such as the "J-hook" can be manufactured out of composite materials, outperforming their metal counterparts.
Non-structural parts in seats, galleys or similar applications and semi-structural fairings or small parts such as brackets or mounts, can be manufactured from TECATEC PEI GW50 natural.
TECATEC PEI GW50 natural plates – manufacturing cost-effective flat parts
High volume production is usually performed with complex press tools, which are not suitable for prototyping and small series production. Parts are needed which fulfil the mechanical and physical requirements of a series part without having to invest in expensive moulds. By substituting metal parts it is possible to save weight, while maintaining the required safety standard.
For additional applications for high service temperatures or with specific requirements for chemical resistance, Ensinger offers other thermoplastic matrix materials and fibres.