Advances in out-of-autoclave

As carbon-fiber composites continue to gain weight share on modern aircraft, reducing the need for autoclave cures becomes more important.

High-performance carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) parts in aerospace applications have come of age in aerospace. CFRP means better fuel efficiency as well as manufacturing efficiency. For example, half of the weight of the new Boeing 787 is from CFRP composites.

The demands of flight require a robust, uniform, strong, and tough material. Composite parts are formed in a number of ways-hand layup, automated tape layers, automatic fiber placement, closed mold methods such as Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), or pultrusion to name just a few, noted Dr. Bert Erdel, Executive Technology Advisor for Morris Group.