Four Polymers Driving Aerospace Success

Importance of Polymers: Aerospace Success

There is no non-essential component in aerospace industry. The entire rocket will not launch if even a single component malfunctions or underperforms in comparison to environmental criteria. Rocket component design and selection is a meticulous process for companies like SpaceX, Blue Origin, NASA, Boeing, and Blue Origin.

Because of their exceptional properties and capacities, polymers occupy a special place in the aerospace and defense industry, where they endure extreme conditions and constant usage. The components of a performance rocket must possess exceptional thermal, dielectric, moisture-resistant, insulating, and impact-resistant qualities to propel the rocket into space.

DuPont’s VESPEL

The VESPEL name is associated with the extreme-performance thermoplastic polyimide (PI) manufactured by DuPont Co. The primary properties of the material are its great impact strength, moderate wear at high PV, and exceptional creep resistance. Components made by VESPEL enable operating temperatures of up to 500°F (260°C) continuously, with the ability to briefly exceed 900°F (482°C). This thermoplastic is famous for its performance and is used for parts in aviation, including thrust washers, valve seats, seals, and wear components.

To cater to various design needs, VESPEL is offered in a wide range of grades. Some of the grades that are now available include SP-1 (Unfilled), SP-21 (15% Graphite), SP-22 (40% Graphite), SP-211 (15% Graphite with 10% PTFE), and SP-3 (15% Molybdenum Disulfide).

TORLON

High temperatures and stress are no match for TORLON. The best-performing amorphous thermoplastic is polyamide-imide (PAI), which can be melt-processed. It is resistant to wear, keeps its shape even when heated to 500°F (260°C), and can withstand extreme heat, chemicals, and stress. Aerospace applications frequently utilize this material due to its constant use under high heat and stress: structural parts, electrical connectors, bearing cages, valve seats, seals, and wear components.

The KELF trademark

One kind of fluoropolymer with many uses in aircraft is KEL-F, or PCTFE (polychlorotrifluoroethylene). Not only is it resistant to wear, chemicals, and heat, but it is also very strong and long-lasting. The fact that KEL-F can withstand temperatures ranging from -400°F to +400°F is what sets it different. KEL-F is a popular choice for gaskets, hydraulic systems, fuel lines, and other aerospace applications. For numerous aerospace applications, KEL-F is a must-have material due to its exceptional characteristics.

PTFE

Because of its non-stick qualities, high temperature and chemical tolerance, and low coefficient of friction, the synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene known as PTFE finds many uses in aircraft. Since its introduction in the 1940s, PTFE has found numerous uses in the aerospace sector, including gaskets, hydraulic systems, fuel lines, and the industry’s initial usage of the material.

Conclusion

The selection of materials is becoming more important in aerospace rocketry and aircraft as these technologies and capacities undergo continuous evolution. A rocket’s construction and assembly are both meticulously planned to ensure peak performance. Success in mission-critical Aerospace and Defense rocketry is enabled by thermoplastics such as Torlon, Vespel, KEL-F, and PTFE. Learn about thermoplastic polymers.

Video01:What Polymers Can Do: AEROSPACE MATERIAL