Archived Aerospace Sector News - 2009

Editors - please refer to the Notes to Editors for background information on Umeco plc and its operating divisions.

ACG Announces the Lauch of a New Composite Tooling Block- November 2009

ACG Attends Space and Satellite Materials Conference - November 2009

Advanced Composites Group Exhibits at the 2009 Paris Air Show - June 2009

Advanced Composites Group Launches New Space and Satellite Material - June 2009

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ACG Announces the Launch of a New Composite Tooling Block - 16th November 2009

Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG), part of the Composites Division of Umeco plc, announces the launch of CB1100, a high-grade ceramic tooling block material offering a unique combination of high temperature resistance and exceptionally low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE).

Fully compatible with ACG’s LTM® epoxy and HTM® Bismaleimide (BMI) prepregs, CB1100 can produce thermally stable composite tooling capable of withstanding the high pressures and elevated temperatures associated with autoclave cure cycles.

ACG’s CB1100 ceramic tooling block can be used as a high temperature capable master model. Machining times for CB1100 are short and, because of its very low thermal expansion, it is also particularly suited to the production of high accuracy, short run and prototype tooling, where it offers great savings in time and cost.

BMI tooling manufactured with a CB1100 core can be produced direct from the block without the need for a high temperature capable intermediate. CB1100 blocks can be fabricated and machined to form a tool core, totally eliminating the need for a master model, thereby further reducing lead times and costs. The composite tool skin, laminated directly to the core, uses ACG’s patent pending interfacing technology. Due to the high thermal stability of the ceramic core, the tool skin can be cured in a single operation without the need for an initial low temperature cure and subsequent free-standing, high temperature post-cure.

The carbon tool skin is fully supported by the ceramic core so there is no need for a backing structure. Collectively, this leads to further reductions in both time and material costs. The tool face is CNC-machined to create the final surface profile, thus overcoming accuracy issues created by intrinsic laminate shrinkage, resulting in an exceptionally accurate and stable tool.

CB1100 does not absorb water so it does not require drying or subsequent venting of the tool, and it is incombustible.

Images © copyright: 2009 ACG Ltd.

For further information please contact:

Advanced Composites Group
Clive Bennett - Tooling Technology Manager. E-mail: cbennett@acg.co.uk
Xavier Gambert - Aerospace Sector Manager. E-mail: xgambert@acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766204

ACG Attends Space and Satellite Materials Conference (SAMPE- India) - 16th November 2009

ACG will be demonstrating its expertise in structural prepreg and tooling developments for space launch vehicle and satellite applications at the SAMPE (India) Conference in Trivandrum, India on the 4th and 5th of December 2009.

Hosted by VSSC (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre), Bernard Twist, ACG’s Export Sales Manager, and Mr. Amit Saraiya of Chemapol, ACG’s Indian Space Sector Representative, will present the Group’s range of structural prepreg and tooling products. In particular, ACG will be promoting HTM®143, a high temperature moulding and low moisture pick-up cyanate ester resin matrix system suitable for space and satellite applications.

Launched in June 2009, HTM143 exhibits one of the lowest moisture pick-up rates of all comparable systems currently on the market. With a long out life of 21 days and a high Tg capability of 250°C (482°F), achieved after a suitable post-cure, HTM143 can be used to manufacture space structures exhibiting high dimensional stability. With low in-service moisture pick-up, i.e. a 0.55% weight gain on neat resin, and exceptionally low outgassing (Total Mass Loss (TML) % of 0.112, Recovered Mass Loss (RML) % of 0.023 and Collected Volatile Condensable Material (CVCM) % of 0.002 [ECSS-Q-ST-70-02C]), HTM143, which is non-ITAR listed, has already been selected for use on several satellite programs. ACG’s HTM143 is available for use with a wide range of unidirectional, biaxial and woven carbon fibre materials.

ACG will also feature MTM®44-1, an industry-leading, Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) technology for aerospace structures which reached two significant milestones in late 2008. MTM44-1, a 130 to 180°C (266 to 355°F) cure, high performance, toughened epoxy matrix, attained Airbus qualification for structural applications and successfully completed testing on the first sub-scale wing box demonstrator for ‘ALCAS’ (Advanced Low Cost Aircraft Structures), a research programme aimed at validating designs and technologies for lower cost aircraft structures.

MTM44-1 has been optimised for low pressure vacuum-bag processing to provide low internal void content, with the resulting composite performances being comparable to those of standard autoclave cured systems. OoA moulding offers benefits such as reduced capital equipment outlay and savings on certain associated processing costs. This technology may also facilitate the manufacture of larger and more integrated structures that would otherwise be excluded by their size and the prohibitive significant investment required for in-autoclave processing.

Having gained Airbus qualification for tape and fabric prepreg formats, MTM44-1 is being actively promoted for applications on a range of Airbus aircraft. Airbus and ACG have underpinned the qualification of MTM44-1 by signing a framework contract that will provide commercial and technical stability to Airbus sub-contractors adopting this new technology over the coming years. The successful testing of MTM44-1 on the wing box demonstrator further demonstrated the capability of this next generation OoA material. This was achieved as part of an Airbus and Dassault Aviation led, 101m€ EU-funded programme aimed at validating the designs and technologies for lower cost aircraft structures.

ACG designed and manufactured the lower cover of a structural wing box demonstrator, which was then used by four other partners (Alenia, Dassault Aviation, SAAB and Stork Fokker AESP) to complete the structure using different materials, designs and manufacturing options. The initial demonstrator failed at 10% over the specified design ultimate load, thereby proving the effectiveness of the materials, designs and technologies involved. At the time of writing, the remaining structures are being evaluated to validate and compare the embodied technologies. When compared with other OoA structural systems, ACG’s MTM44-1 exhibits the highest mechanical performances and can compete with a wide range of high toughness, autoclave curable epoxy systems.

ACG first introduced OoA materials and technology for aerospace structural applications in the early 1990’s and has radically developed its product portfolio for this and many other demanding applications since that time. Numerous civil and military programs currently use ACG’s OoA materials to manufacture structures by manual lay-up and state-of-the-art automated systems, including Automated Tape Lay-Up (ATL) and Automated Fibre Placement (AFP).

To complete the line up of next generation OoA processing structural systems currently in use or under qualification for a variety of civil and military applications, ACG offers MTM®45-1 and MTM®46, both of which have the largest available Public ‘B’ and ‘A’ basis databases generated via FAA accepted methodology at both lamina and laminate level.

ACG also manufactures a wide range of aircraft interior prepreg materials qualified to Airbus specifications. The Group’s prepreg range includes epoxy, phenolic, and bismaleimide (BMI) resin systems supplied in a number of different formats and fibre reinforcements, such as carbon, E, R and S-Glass.

For aircraft interior applications, the Group’s materials exhibit excellent fire performance characteristics that enable components meet mandatory regulations such as the Federal Aviation Authority’s FAR25.853 and Airbus ABD0031 directives.

From its prepreg manufacturing facilities in the UK and the USA, the Group services all markets by delivering bespoke products to short lead times, a service which is supported by a global network of dedicated sales and support agencies.

Visitors are encouraged to review ACG’s aerospace pedigree by visiting the Group’s web site.

Images sourced at iStockphotos.com

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group
Bernard Twist - Export Sales Manager. E-mail: btwist@acg.co.uk
Xavier Gambert - Aerospace Market Sector Manager E-mail: xgambert@acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766204
Web site: www.acg.co.uk

Advanced Composites Group Exhibits at the 2009 Paris Air Show - June 2009

Advanced Composites Group Ltd. (ACG), part of the Composites Division of Umeco plc, will be exhibiting on Pattonair's Stand E36 in Hall 5 at the Paris Air Show - Le Bourget, Paris, France, between the15th and 21st June 2009. Pattonair is Umeco plc's global distribution and supply chain management business.

Visitors are encouraged to review ACG’s aerospace pedigree by visiting the Group’s web site.

ACG will feature its industry-leading Out-of-Autoclave (OOA) technology for aerospace structures at the Show. The Group will display an integrally stiffened panel and a one-shot honeycomb panel, both manufactured using its Airbus qualified MTM®44-1 OOA material.

ACG will also be promoting two other OOA aerospace structural materials, namely MTM®45-1 and MTM®46, both of which have the largest available Public ‘B’ and ‘A’ basis databases generated via FAA accepted methodology at both lamina and laminate level.

ACG also manufactures a wide range of aircraft interior prepreg materials qualified to Airbus specifications. The Group’s prepreg range includes epoxy, phenolic, and bismaleimide (BMI) resin systems supplied in a number of different formats and fibre reinforcements, such as carbon, E, R and S glass.

For aircraft interior applications, the Group’s materials exhibit excellent fire performance characteristics that enable components meet mandatory regulations such as the Federal Aviation Authority’s FAR25.853 and Airbus ABD0031 directives.

From its prepreg manufacturing facilities in the UK and the USA, the Group services all markets by delivering bespoke products to short lead times, a service which is supported by a global network of dedicated sales and support agencies.

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group
Jon Stowell – Head of Marketing and Business Development. E-mail: jstowell@acg.co.uk
Xavier Gambert - Aerospace Sector Manager. E-mail: xgambert@acg.co.uk

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Advanced Composites Group Launches New Space and Satellite Material - June 2009

Advanced Composites Group Ltd. (ACG), a member of the Composites Division of Umeco plc, announces the launch of HTM®143, a high temperature moulding and low moisture pick-up cyanate ester resin matrix system suitable for space and satellite applications.

With a 0.55% weight gain on neat resin, HTM143 exhibits one of the lowest moisture pick-up rates of all comparable systems currently on the market. With a long out life of 21 days and a high Tg capability of 250°C (482°F), achieved after a suitable post-cure, HTM143 can be used to manufacture space structures exhibiting high dimensional stability.

HTM143, which is non-ITAR listed, has already been selected for use on several satellite programs.

ACG’s HTM143 is available for use with a wide range of unidirectional, biaxial and woven carbon fibre materials

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group
Jon Stowell - Head of Marketing and Business Development. E-mail: jstowell@acg.co.uk
Xavier Gambert - Aerospace Sector Manager. E-mail: xgambert@acg.co.uk

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