Applications
- Landing gear components
- Electrical and thermal insulators
- Transparency to electromagnetic signals
- Windows, canopies, dust covers
- Interior wall panels and luggage compartments
- Ventilation ducting and seals
- Trays and tray tables
- Pipes and tubing
- Fasteners
- Mirrors
- Wiring conduits
- Bushings and bearings
- Seals
- Collapsible air duct ribs
Advantages
- Lightweight
- Reduced maintenance
- Design flexibility (colors, textures)
- Thermoformability
- Corrosion resistant
- Chemical and impact resistant
- Good insulator
- Easily fabricated
- Broad range of being temperature resistant
- Flame, smoke and toxicity resistant
Materials
- Acetal (POM)
- Acrylic (PMMA)
- Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)
- Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP)
- Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA)
- Polyamide (PA)
- Polyamide-Imide (PAI)
- Polyarylsulphone (PAS)
- Polycarbonate (PC)
- Polyetheretherketone (PEEK)
- Polyetherimide (PEI)
- Polyethylene (PE)
- Polyimide (PI)
- Polyphenylene Oxide (modified PPO)
- Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS)
- Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)
- Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)/Acrylic
- Thermoset Composites (phenolics)
Did you know?
Thanks to performance plastics, the Airbus Extra Long Range (XLR) series will burn fuel per passenger at a rate comparable to that of an economical family car or better.
Sustainability Advantages of Performance Plastics
Reduction in Weight
- Transitioning to high-performance polymers can result in up to 50% weight reduction.
- For each pound of weight reduced, it saves about $1,000 in fuel over the life of the airplane.
Fuel Savings
- Every pound reduced in aircraft weight can save up to 15,000 gallons of fuel.
- Lightweight seats saved more than 730 tons of CO2, equivalent to 3,000 trees.
Material Cost Benefits
- Converting all metal parts to plastic alternatives can reduce weight by up to 50%.
- Replacing aluminum with high-performance plastics can save up to 60% on parts cost.