Hexcel is exhibiting at the Aero India show in Bangalore, from 6th to 10th February 2013 (Hall B1, Stand B2-5) to promote the latest innovations in composites for the Indian aerospace industry.
Hexcel has supplied prepregs, fabrics, resins, honeycombs and adhesives to India for many years to a broad base of customers including Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), National Aerospace Lab (NAL), Indian Space Research Organisation, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and TATA Advanced Materials.
TATA Advanced Materials make spars and composite panels for the Airbus A350 XWB using Hexcel’s HexPly® M21E/IMA prepreg. The A350 XWB is the first Airbus to have a structure that is over 50% composites and Hexcel is supplying the carbon fibre prepreg for all of the A350 XWB primary structures. The A350 XWB will make its maiden flight later this year.
At Aero India 2013 Hexcel will promote the latest developments for the aerospace industry including products for civil aircraft, helicopters and satellites:
HexTow® IM10 is Hexcel’s newest carbon fibre and an industry breakthrough, offering the highest commercially available tensile strength of 1,010 ksi or 6964 MPa, making it particularly suitable for next generation aircraft and engine structures.
HexPly® M91 is a new epoxy prepreg developed by Hexcel for airframe primary structures and engines that meets the ever growing needs of aerospace OEMs to manufacture lighter, faster and more efficient aircraft. HexPly® M91 demonstrates excellent toughness, including very high residual compression after impact (CAI). It gives improved tensile performance in combination with both Intermediate Modulus (IM) and High Strength (AS) HexTow® fibers; in particular, achieving outstanding performance in combination with Hexcel’s new HexTow® IM10 fibre. Good hot-wet properties up to 120°C (250°F) are also obtained.
HexPly® M91 is supplied as UD tape and is suitable for automated processes including automated tape laying (ATL) and advanced fibre placement (AFP). Good tack life and out-life provide flexibility during processing on the shop floor and low exotherm behaviour allows simple cure cycles of thick monolithic structures up to 70mm (2.76”).
HexPly® M65 is Hexcel’s bismaleimide (BMI) prepreg system for aircraft structures, giving good tack and handleability, making it well suited for fibre placement applications.
HexFlow® RTM6-2 is a new bi-component version of Hexcel’s highly successful RTM6 resin that has many years proven service and is favoured for its high glass transition temperatures and short cure cycles. Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) allows high quality components to be manufactured, in low to medium volume production rates, without using autoclaves. Large complex shapes can be achieved with good surface quality and a reduced part count. With the same chemical composition as RTM6, HexFlow® RTM6-2 provides the same high mechanical properties as the original resin and is easy to transport by air or sea outside Europe. An added advantage is that the bi-component system can be stored at +5°C for 12 months (rather than the 9 months at -18°C for the original HexFlow® RTM6).