Hexcel is exhibiting at the Korea Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (Seoul, October 18th- 23rd) to promote its latest composite technologies for the aerospace industry and support its sales activities in the region.  On the stand Hexcel will be showcasing its range of composite materials – from carbon fibre and fibre-reinforcements, through to prepregs and honeycombs.

Hexcel will promote its latest core material, HexWeb® HRH-36.   HexWeb® HRH-36 is a high performance non-metallic honeycomb core with excellent thermal stability and smooth cell wall finish.  It can be readily heat-formed to help produce complex components and offers similar mechanical properties to Korex® (DuPont trademark) core as well as comparable moisture pickup.  In addition, HexWeb® HRH-36 offers a weight reduction over high density Nomex® (DuPont trademark) honeycomb cores.  HexWeb® HRH-36 is manufactured using aramid paper, with phenolic as the standard resin system.  It is offered in a wide range of densities, suitable for most composite sandwich applications.

HexWeb® HRH-36 is available as Flexcore®, an innovative honeycomb combining Hexcel’s unique flexible cell geometry with the latest high performance core material.  HexWeb HRH-36® Flexcore® provides strength retention at up to 175ºC/350ºF and retains its mechanical properties in a curved condition.  HexWeb® HRH-36 Flexcore® also provides higher shear strengths than comparable hexagonal cores of equivalent density and can therefore give valuable weight savings for an equivalent performance.  Cost-savings can result from the reduced scrap and labour costs when using regular hexagonal cell core.  Some parts that could not previously be made with honeycomb can how benefit from a sandwich construction.  Typical applications are radomes, ducts, leading edges of wings and stabilizers.

HexMC® is Hexcel’s new high performance carbon fibre/epoxy moulding concept, designed for the press moulding of composite parts.  Hexcel will display an aircraft window frame demonstrator part moulded in HexMC.  The high carbon fibre volume content combined with aerospace qualified epoxy resins opens up opportunities for more aerospace parts to be made from composites in lieu of metals. HexMC is suitable for large volume production of complex 3D high performance parts, allowing for thickness variations, sharp angles, ribs, stiffeners and co-moulded inserts.  Processing HexMC is quick and efficient, using an automated SMC type production.  There is no costly and time-consuming lay-up or scrap, and as the part is moulded into perfect shape, no finishing processes are required.

Stand exhibits include an Airbus A380 door hinge arm manufactured by Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH using Hexcel’s HexForceTM G926 carbon fibre woven fabric and HexFlow® RTM6 resin.  The door hinge arm is manufactured using Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) technology.  Manufacturing the part in composites brings joint benefits of weight reduction (each part weighs only 7.8Kg) and better thermal insulation of the aircraft interior.  It results in greater comfort in the area close to the doors due to less heat loss.  There are 16 door hinge arms on each A380 aircraft.   Composite door hinges are already in use on other Airbus models for emergency doors.

The composite engine air intake duct for the Tiger helicopter will also be on display.  This is manufactured by Daher Lhotellier Aerotechnologies using Hexcel’s new HexPly® M42 prepreg with G939 carbon fibre reinforcement.  HexPly® M42 is a new self-adhesive and self-extinguishing prepreg.  It is a high impact resistant, 180°C curing epoxy system that is self-adhesive on honeycomb and has a continuous service temperature of 120°C in wet conditions.

Ends

Background

Hexcel Corporation is a leading advanced structural materials company.  It develops, manufactures and markets lightweight, high-performance reinforcement products, composite materials and composite structures for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, electronics, and industrial applications.

Hexcel is the largest US producer of carbon fibre, the leading weaver of structural fabrics and a major supplier of composite materials.  Hexcel fibres, fabrics, resins, prepregs, honeycombs and adhesives are widely used in the aerospace industry, with products qualified for new generation aircraft including the Airbus A380, Boeing 787 and the Airbus Military A400M.  Regional jets, helicopters, aircraft engines and satellites are also major users of Hexcel materials.

With headquarters in Stamford (CT), USA, Hexcel is a global company, manufacturing in USA, Europe and Asia pacific region.  Hexcel’s manufacturing facilities in the Pacific Rim region include a joint venture with Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc. (DIC) in a composite materials plant, located in Komatsu, Japan.  Products manufactured by DIC-Hexcel Ltd include prepregs, honeycombs, laminates and panels.  Hexcel has recently invested in new equipment at Komatsu for honeycomb expansion and prepreg slitting to provide a better service to customers in the area.

Other Hexcel joint venture manufacturing facilities in the Asia pacific region include plants which manufacture composite structures: BHA Aero Composite Parts in Tianjin, China and Asian Composites Manufacturing in Bukit Kayu Hitam, Malaysia.

Hexcel is also well represented by sales offices in the region, from bases in Melbourne, Australia; Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Melaka, Malaysia; Bangalore, India; and Seoul, Korea.

Contact:  Rachel Atkinson
Tel: +44 (0)1223 838370
Rachel.Atkinson@hexcel.com