New victrex PEEK products and process technology developments for lightweight aerospace components

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New victrex PEEK products and process technology developments for lightweight aerospace components

Padey, Didier / Walling, John / Wood, Alan

Aerospace engineers continually strive to identify materials which provide processing flexibility, reduce manufacturing costs, and provide durability in harsh environments. Standard VICTREX PEEK polymer grades have successfully displaced metals, traditional composites, and other plastics in a growing number of aerospace applications because it is exceptionally strong, inert, flame retardant and it can be easily fabricated into tight tolerance parts. Several new VICTREX PEEK polymer grades and compounds have recently been developed to maximise mechanical properties and improve mouldability. New VICTREX PEEK films, tapes, and coatings have also been launched, with significant process technology investment, to optimize consistency in a range of product forms. Case studies and material comparison data are presented. Examples describing the factors which led to conversion from metal or other materials to VICTREX PEEK in the case of exterior, in-aircraft, and complementary systems will be reviewed. Exterior applications will focus on the interactions between the exterior material with rain, atmospheric particulates, and chemicals. In-aircraft applications will focus on durability, flammability and low smoke toxicity properties of VICTREX PEEK polymer. Finally, complementary system case studies will focus on components that are available in standardized product configurations and have broad application based on the ability of VICTREX PEEK to survive long term exposure to high heat, aggressive chemicals, and dynamic fatigue cycling, while protecting against wear, abrasion, and corrosion.