Apr 14 2010
Fokker Aerostructures(NL), Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (USA), KVE Composites Group (NL), TenCate Aerospace Composites (NL) and Ticona GmbH (GE) have won the prestigious JEC innovation award in the category Aeronautics, for the first welded thermoplastic composite Rudder and Elevator of the all new Gulfstream G650 tail section. The award will be officially presented to Fokker Aerostructures and partners during the opening ceremony of the JEC Composite Show in Paris on Tuesday April 13.
The first of their kind in the aircraft industry, these induction welded thermoplastic composite primary structures convinced the renowned international experts of the JEC jury of their true innovative character. The award is an excellent achievement and proves that close collaboration between OEM: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and supply chain: Fokker Aerostructures, KVE, TenCate Aerospace Composites and Ticona results in valuable innovations for the aerospace industry.
Fokker Aerostructures designed and developed the G650 tail section and industrialized a new induction welding method for the rudder and the elevator. With the welding technology developed by KVE Composites Group, components are joined into an inseparable unit by induction welding, eliminating costly drilling and riveting work.
The thermoplastic material is Fortron PPS, a high performance engineering polymer, developed by Ticona GMbH. TenCate Aerospace Composites produces the carbon/PPS semipreg and plate material used. Composites made from PPS composites remain hard, impact-resistant, stiff and dimensionally stable, even when exposed to elevated temperatures and aggressive fluids.
The increased use of thermoplastic composites in the aerospace industry is a trend, driven by weight reduction considerations, sustainable development considerations and the concern with materials recycling. With its inherent flame retardancy, the material also meets the high safety standards specified by the aircraft industry.Until recently a combination of thermoset and traditional aluminum was used for primary structures.