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24 Jun 2009  -  Germany / United States

Novel thermoplastic composite preform

© Ticona

A high-quality carbon composite tape made with Fortron polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) engineering thermoplastic from Ticona Engineering Polymers is adding strength and taking the weight out of braided fabrics preforms manufactured by A&P Technology Inc. for advanced aircraft interior applications; as unveiled on June 22, 2009.

"This Fortron PPS-based thermoplastic tape gives braided fabric preforms an outstanding range of properties, low preform cost and rapid ease of final manufacture that composite component manufacturers require,” said Michael R. Favaloro, Ticona Technical Marketing - Fortron Composites. “We are seeing strong interest in materials that use an approach, which applies both thermoplastics and braided reinforcements.” 

A&P Technology, a world-leading producer of precision braided textiles based in Cincinnati, worked with Ticona and a manufacturer of thermoplastic composite tapes to develop this new high quality Fortron PPS-based carbon reinforced preform. It was developed for an advanced aircraft interior application that required a preform, which could be fabricated into specific shapes and consolidated into unique final shapes. They opted to use an engineering thermoplastic instead of a thermoset plastic for two reasons.

“Fortron linear PPS was selected because it can be easily manufactured into tape with carbon, glass and other reinforcements, and it offers processing and eco-friendly advantages,” said Favaloro. “Fortron PPS is an ideal thermoplastic for use with rapid manufacturing processing, where parts need to be molded in a few minutes instead of the lengthier times required with a thermoset, and it is recyclable, requires much less energy to process and contains no volatile organic compounds, unlike thermosets.”

This novel thermoplastic composite material uses a low-cost tape that is slit in nominal widths and braided with specialized A&P Technology equipment. “The result is a high quality preform that can be readily consolidated to a final shape in a matter of minutes,” said Favaloro. “This preform is being qualified for use in aircraft interior components and an automotive application.”

Thermoplastic-based composites today are enabling the development of new, advanced lightweight components that are lower in cost than thermoset composites.
“Fortron linear PPS has proven production performance in critical aerospace structures,” said Ticona’s Favaloro. “We see new, expanding opportunities for Fortron linear PPS in applications such as airframe/wing structures, seat frames, structural stiffeners, window frames, floor panels, cable harnesses, and clips and brackets, where it can help reduce cost and weight without sacrificing strength and stability.”


About Fortron® PPS
Fortron linear PPS is a semi-crystalline polymer with key features:
• Exceptional high temperature performance to temperatures up to 240 degrees Celsius
• Outstanding resistance to aircraft and automotive fuels, oils, solvents and anti-icing agents
• Excellent hardness, stiffness and dimensional stability
• Inherently flame-resistant – meets flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) requirements for aircraft interiors

About A&P Technology Inc.
A&P Technology Inc. is a seventh generation, family-owned, world-leading producer of precision braided textiles. A&P’s leadership is the result of commitment to its customers and an ethic of hard work and ingenuity. We have successfully combined these qualities with our modern facilities, state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, and industry-leading research and development capabilities. Additional information on the definitions of halogen-free is available on the A&P Technology website at www.braider.com.

About Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the engineering polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of high performance products, and posted net sales of $1.06 billion in fiscal 2008. Ticona employs approximately 2,000 individuals at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany, Brazil and China. 
The Celanes products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.8 billion in 2008, with approximately 65% generated outside of North America. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 8,350 employees worldwide.

Source : Ticona