You are here
Aerospace
CHEMFAB® products are used in applications in the manufacturing of composite aircraft components, which include helicopter rotor blades, satcom and weather radomes, structural components such as wings, fuselage components, tail sections and wire harness protective insulation. CHEMFAB® fabrics used in composite fabrication mold protection and release liners, vacuum bagging bleeder cloths, are chosen for there high temperature rating, exceptional clean release, and controlled porosity. Product range from non-porous to tightly controlled application specific porosity.
In the full range of applications, the release properties, mechanical properties and porosity of the product selected are critical to the performance of the manufacturing process and the quality of the products produced.
Applications
Aircraft composites manufacturing
CHEMFAB PTFE coated fabrics are used in various aircraft composite manufacturing processes. Our high performance and temperature resistant PTFE (Teflon™) coated fabric solutions are successfully used in hand lay-up, open molded or vacuum bagging techniques.
They can be used a release tape applied directly to the mold, allowing for a clean and easy release after the composite curing process has been completed. Our porous grade materials provide excellent release and are used as breather fabrics, allowing for air and volatiles to escape. CHEMFAB PTFE coated fabrics also work as peel ply, being draped over mold as the epoxy sets up. This allows for the composite to be peeled off the fabric once it has been cured, and the result is a perfectly smooth surface. Using CHEMFAB long lasting and most consistent release products for aircraft molding processes gives you a great cost advantage by minimizing downtime and unplanned maintenance. The easy clean PTFE surfaces also reduce the need for waxes and cleaning agents traditionally used in the process.
Wire wrap insulation and harness protection
With a lot of cabling required to operate modern aircrafts, CHEMFAB PTFE coated fabrics and adhesive tapes are widely used in wire harness protection and wire wrap insulation. They are an ideal solution for shielding of electrical cables and individual components through the combination of high dielectric strength of PTFE and mechanical stability of fiberglass. Whether it is outer cable wrapping, wrapable sleeving or convoluted tubing, our tapes and fabrics provide low friction and abrasion resistant insulation that serves most demanding industrial electrical needs.
Multilayer insulation blankets
CHEMFAB Beta cloth products are comprised of a high performance PTFE (Teflon™) and glass composite used as a component for MLI (multilayer insulation) blankets. Often used as the outer layer, special design of the product provides the strength, resistance to flex fatigue and handle which sets it apart from other standard coated fabrics, and makes it more suitable for space applications. This lightly coated, low outgassing material has a great deal of flight legacy being used in proximity to sensitive components and equipment. In many applications, some properties or values are diminished by end of life as the effects of thermo cycling, atomic oxygen, solar ultraviolet radiation, vacuum ultraviolet radiation, and space debris attack the exposed surface. Our Beta cloth fabrics are able to withstand these harsh conditions serving as a barrier and protecting the inner surface.
