Material trends in aerostructures
Where do we go from here?
Materials trends for aerostructures.
The application of the latest generation of composites materials such as carbon fibre on a very large scale has changed the face of modern aircraft manufacturing. While aluminium alloys accounted for as much as 60-70% of aircraft material volumes in the past, carbon fibre and other composites have grown to take more than 50% of the total volume today and in the near future.
Strong, lightweight and wear resistant as these new materials are, they do pose a manufacturing challenge. New, advanced ultra abrasive resistant tooling solutions are required to meet these demands. Another group of materials that has grown in importance in this segment is titanium alloys. These are used to save weight and reduce fuel consumption.
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