By Mark Scoular (June 2021)

Carbon composites are a broad class of materials in which carbon structures (typically fibers) are dispersed throughout a bulk material. As with other composite materials, carbon composites are “more than the sum of their parts”, offering superlative strength and stiffness while remaining relatively lightweight. The properties of carbon composites lend themselves to widespread use as engineering materials, in particular in the aerospace and aviation industries.

Development of Carbon Composites for Aerospace Applications

The aerospace industry places extraordinarily high demands on its materials and components – to the point where the term “aerospace grade” has become practically synonymous with “high tech”. If a material is defined as strong, stiff and lightweight, there is a great likelihood that it has been investigated for use in aircraft and aviation applications.

Carbon composites are, in many ways, an excellent aerospace material. Consisting of a carbon ‘filler’ dispersed throughout a bulk ‘matrix’ (typically a polymer such as PTFE), carbon composite components boast incredible stiffness while also exhibiting much lower density than materials with comparable mechanical properties.

Carbon composites were first used in aircraft structures following the discovery of carbon fiber at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough, UK, in 1964. The newly-developed carbon fibers were dispersed in polymers to reinforce them, resulting in a class of composite materials known as Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRPs). As these materials evolved – with the use of improved fibers and matrix materials – their high stiffness and strength-to-weight ratios enabled them to displace more conventional materials like aluminum and titanium alloys for primary structures.

Today, carbon composites make up a significant portion of virtually any aircraft’s weight. For example, the vertical stabilizer of an Airbus A310 – a primary aerodynamic and structural component – is fabricated in its entirety from carbon composite. This component offers a huge weight saving of almost 400 kg when compared with the previously-used unit which was made from an aluminum alloy.

Carbon Composites from Omniseal Solutions

Our business leverages a wealth of experience in materials research to provide a comprehensive array of carbon composite components to the aviation industry.

Along with composite solutions, their Omniseal^®, Meldin^® and Rulon^® sealing and material solutions are available in custom designs and a variety of formulations to precisely fit any aviation or space application. Common applications of carbon composites in aviation systems include actuators, landing gear, and bleed air systems.

To learn more on how carbon composite materials can support your aviation or space application, reach out to an expert today.