PROSPECTS FOR THE GROWTH OF THE USE OF THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE MATERIALS IN THE GLOBAL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY

Abstract

It is shown that in the complex problem of permanent increase in the competitiveness of aircraft, a special role is played by the increasing use of polymer composite materials in aircraft structures of the transport category every year. An important role is played not only by the rational choice of structural and technological solutions of their units and assemblies, but also by the use of new composite materials to reduce the cost and production time of aircraft structures, which greatly contributes to the implementation of high flight technological and economic characteristics of competitive aircraft in the global market for sales and services. A review and analysis of the development of new composite materials and technologies for their processing into products, discussed at the annual international exhibition Sampe 2019. From an analysis of the results of the materials of the exhibition and conferences held within its framework, it follows that the global aviation industry is paying more and more attention to the study of structural thermoplastics and the development of new technological processes associated with these materials, in particular, welding. In the field of aircraft manufacturing, various companies and institutes are working to optimize and reduce the cost of production processes for parts from polymer composite materials, especially in the direction of autoclave-free production technologies. New developments of leading aircraft manufacturers, in particular AIRBUS, for the creation of large-sized responsible high-load structural elements of aircraft from polymer composite materials with a thermoplastic matrix are presented. Of particular note is 3D printing technology, which aircraft manufacturers have successfully begun to use for the manufacture of aircraft parts. It is noted that this technology allows not only to reduce the production cycle of manufacturing parts, but also significantly reduce the energy intensity of processes, which positively affects the cost of products. During a visit to the AIRBUS factory in Nantes, a high level of automation of production processes for manufacturing parts from polymer composite materials with a large number of laying, winding machines, CNC machines, robots was noted, which is due to a significant production program for the A350XWB and A400M aircraft with a high degree of automation of production processes, and also a very high level of safety and labor protection.