Hexcel is a world leader in the manufacture of advanced composites that meet the demands of the growing aerospace market. Hexcel products include carbon fibers, structural adhesives, honeycombs, prepregs, sandwich panels and reinforcement fabrics. Redux® adhesives bond all modern structural aircraft materials. HexWeb® honeycombs provide lightweight sandwich structures. HexForce™ reinforcements can be woven from all types of synthetic and mineral fiber into cones, tubes, beams, etc., to meet customers' unique needs. A variety of prepregs provide good surface finish, high level of toughness, and fatigue and environmental resistance. Fibrelam® laminates provide extremely long life floor panels--in excess of 55,000 hours.
HexTow™ Carbon Fibers
Following the lead of the military aircraft industry, commercial aircraft designers began using carbon fiber. The Airbus A320, A330, A340 and A380 series of aircraft use Hexcel carbon fibers in nacelles, fairing, and empennage. In the early 1990's General Electric formed a joint venture with Snecma for design and production of carbon fiber fan blades for the GE-90 series engine. Our carbon fibers are the sole qualified source for the prepregs used to make these fan blades.
Commuter and business aircraft are now also using carbon fibers in primary and secondary structures, taking advantage of the weight savings associated with carbon fiber materials. Embraer, Global Express, Raytheon, and Gulfstream are currently using our materials in aircraft components.
HexForce™ Reinforcements
The aerospace industry relies on Hexcel’s woven glass, carbon and Kevlar® brand aramid fiber fabrics for use in advanced composite products. Due to the high strength, thermal and electrical insulating properties, and fire resistance of fiber glass and carbon fabrics, today’s commercial aircraft industry uses our materials in the design and manufacture of radomes, interior paneling systems and secondary structures (wing-to-body faring, leading edges, engine nacelle parts and flight control panels).
Hexcel also delivers fabrics for satellite engineering and space hardware as well. NASA’s Space Shuttles utilize Hexcel’s advanced glass fiber and carbon fabrics in solid rocket motor applications for ablative insulation and structural overwrap reinforcement. In instances such as these, light weight durable modern fabrics are vital to project completion.
Composite Materials
Hexcel pioneered the development of composite materials to meet the requirements of early aircraft manufacturers. Ground-breaking contracts included the supply of fiberglass honeycomb panels for the B-36 bomber and the construction of a full scale wing spar in flax fibre reinforced phenol formaldehyde resin for a Bristol "Blenheim" bomber. Weight-saving was a major driver in the exploration and development of these new materials, alongside the need for higher mechanical properties and greater design flexibility.
Fifty years on, the aerospace industry remains the greatest consumer of composite materials, whether for civil aircraft, military jets, helicopters, aero-engines or the newer space satellite and launchers. Hexcel now offers a complete range of Fibre Reinforced Matrix technologies to the industry, from Prepreg, with tow and multiaxial fabric options, to RTM, RFI and moulding compounds. Hexcel is the only composites supplier that supplies this wide range of FRM technologies together with an extensive range of honeycomb, adhesives and engineered products.
Typical Applications for Hexcel Products in Civil Aircraft
Typical Applications for Hexcel Products in Aero-Engines