Different materials
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2024 9:17 am
Materials used in aerospace injection molding
Material selection is critical in aerospace injection molding due to the harsh working conditions and rigorous performance requirements of airline parts. High-temperature thermoplastics such as PEEK, polyimides, or PPS are popular. These plastics exhibit superior strength, high durability, and resistance to heat and chemicals.
For example, PEEK has a glass transition temperature of about 260°C, with excellent mechanical characteristics. It is commonly used in stress-bearing areas such as gaskets and supports.
Polyimides are popular due to their high thermal and electrical resistivity in electrical applications and engines. In particular, PPS has excellent chemical resistance and is characterized by dimensional stability under thermal conditions. Therefore, this material can be useful in fuel system parts and electrical contacts. These thermoplastics can enable the manufacture of structural and non-structural components in aerospace applications. They provide the necessary performance without additional bulk.
Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) are also essential for injection molding in aerospace. They have an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio of the composite material. GFRP is expected in continuous parts, including covers and housings, where durability combined with low weight is desirable. europe dataset CFRP produces parts such as wings and fuselage, where high strength and minimal weight are essential.
Other materials such as polyamide (nylon) and Teflon provide versatility in aerospace components due to their wear, friction and chemical resistance properties. Polycarbonate materials offer high impact resistance and good light transmission. They are used in aircraft cabins, windows and light shields.
Material Tensile strength (MPa) Flexural modulus (GPa) Maximum operating temperature (°C) Density (g/cm³) Main features Common aerospace applications
PEEK (polyether ether ketone) 90-110 3.6-4.0 260 1.30-1.32 High mechanical, chemical and thermal resistance, excellent wear properties Engine components, gaskets, mounts
Polyimide 100-160 4.0-5.5 315 1.43-1.47 Excellent thermal stability, excellent electrical insulation Rings, high temperature electrical components
PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) 90-110 3.0-4.0 200 1.35-1.40 Chemical resistance, dimensional stability to heat Fuel system parts, valve bodies, electrical connectors
GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) 120-150 7.0-10.0 180 1.50-2.00 High strength to weight ratio, good corrosion resistance Structural components, housings
CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) 500-1000 50-100 250 1.55-1.60 Superior rigidity, excellent fatigue resistance Fuselage panels, wing spars, load-bearing structures
Nylon (polyamide) 75-85 2.6-3.3 120 1.12-1.15 High wear resistance, good fatigue resistance Interior trim, brackets, ringsSTL, short for "Stereolithography", is a widely used file format for information processing. 3D printing and CAD. It represents a 3D object as a collection of triangles or polygons that define the shape of its surface. The STL file type is designated by the following acronyms: Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language: Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language.
Material selection is critical in aerospace injection molding due to the harsh working conditions and rigorous performance requirements of airline parts. High-temperature thermoplastics such as PEEK, polyimides, or PPS are popular. These plastics exhibit superior strength, high durability, and resistance to heat and chemicals.
For example, PEEK has a glass transition temperature of about 260°C, with excellent mechanical characteristics. It is commonly used in stress-bearing areas such as gaskets and supports.
Polyimides are popular due to their high thermal and electrical resistivity in electrical applications and engines. In particular, PPS has excellent chemical resistance and is characterized by dimensional stability under thermal conditions. Therefore, this material can be useful in fuel system parts and electrical contacts. These thermoplastics can enable the manufacture of structural and non-structural components in aerospace applications. They provide the necessary performance without additional bulk.
Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) and carbon fiber reinforced polymers (CFRP) are also essential for injection molding in aerospace. They have an extremely high strength-to-weight ratio of the composite material. GFRP is expected in continuous parts, including covers and housings, where durability combined with low weight is desirable. europe dataset CFRP produces parts such as wings and fuselage, where high strength and minimal weight are essential.
Other materials such as polyamide (nylon) and Teflon provide versatility in aerospace components due to their wear, friction and chemical resistance properties. Polycarbonate materials offer high impact resistance and good light transmission. They are used in aircraft cabins, windows and light shields.
Material Tensile strength (MPa) Flexural modulus (GPa) Maximum operating temperature (°C) Density (g/cm³) Main features Common aerospace applications
PEEK (polyether ether ketone) 90-110 3.6-4.0 260 1.30-1.32 High mechanical, chemical and thermal resistance, excellent wear properties Engine components, gaskets, mounts
Polyimide 100-160 4.0-5.5 315 1.43-1.47 Excellent thermal stability, excellent electrical insulation Rings, high temperature electrical components
PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) 90-110 3.0-4.0 200 1.35-1.40 Chemical resistance, dimensional stability to heat Fuel system parts, valve bodies, electrical connectors
GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer) 120-150 7.0-10.0 180 1.50-2.00 High strength to weight ratio, good corrosion resistance Structural components, housings
CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) 500-1000 50-100 250 1.55-1.60 Superior rigidity, excellent fatigue resistance Fuselage panels, wing spars, load-bearing structures
Nylon (polyamide) 75-85 2.6-3.3 120 1.12-1.15 High wear resistance, good fatigue resistance Interior trim, brackets, ringsSTL, short for "Stereolithography", is a widely used file format for information processing. 3D printing and CAD. It represents a 3D object as a collection of triangles or polygons that define the shape of its surface. The STL file type is designated by the following acronyms: Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language: Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language.