New types of materials are needed to reduce aircraft weight and therefore fuel consumption. In other words, we face a dual challenge to meet both environmental and economic objectives.
Composite nacelles by Safran, shown here at the Aircelle plant in Le Havre
© Aircelle
Due to the many advantages of composite materials, originally developed for space, they were subsequently used on military aircraft (such as the Rafale fighter’s M88 engine), and then on commercial aircraft. Composites will continue to expand their scope of application, as increasing uses are found on aircraft airframes, equipment and engines. Thermostructural composites, for instance, retain their mechanical properties even at very high temperatures. They are made of carbon or ceramic fibers, in a carbon or ceramic matrix – explaining the “composite” name. A number of current tests are designed to validate their use in jet engine exhaust systems and eventually as part of combustion chambers and turbines.
Most viewed pages
Flux RSS: 
How does it work ?
See how our products work.