Du Pont innovations have helped Airbus

Citation

(2007), "Du Pont innovations have helped Airbus", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779dad.019

Du Pont innovations have helped Airbus

Du Pont innovations have helped Airbus

An Airbus A380 operated by Lufthansa recently landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City at the same time a Qantas Airways Airbus A380 landed at Los Angeles International Airport. The “superjumbo” aircraft has four engines and a flight range of up to 15,000km – enabling it to fly nonstop between Europe and Asia.

“Du Pont innovations have helped Airbus' concept of the world's largest aircraft to become a reality,” said Jim Weigand, global business director – Du Pont Advanced Fiber Systems. “Since, the infancy of aviation, Du Pont has been delivering unique materials essential for lighter weight, reduced volume, durability, energy efficiency and environmental resistance. Our work with Airbus is another example where Du Pont science and technology provides unique solutions to the aerospace industry and the broader marketplace.”

Du Pont advanced fibers, electronic components and composites are assisting Airbus to meet demanding strength and weight requirements, as well as stringent safety standards. The A380 and the aeronautics industry require products with a complex combination of properties: strength and durability, lightweight, resistance to harsh environments, and ease of use in manufacturing. Safety considerations, such as flame resistance, also are important to the industry.

The new Airbus A380 includes a new honeycomb composite made from Du Pont, Kevlar which is found from its flooring to interior walls to wing flaps. Pound for pound, Kevlar is claimed to be five times stronger than steel. As a honeycomb core, this strength allows the Kevlar to dramatically increase the structural integrity of the aircraft, while enabling a substantial weight savings.

The A380 uses engine parts made with high-strength, lightweight Vespel, which reduces weight in the A380 by replacing heavier components made from metallic alloys and by reducing friction to allow for lower-weight actuators. Virtually every jet engine made in the Western world is said to use Vespel parts.

Du Pont, Nomex is among the materials that enhance the safety of A380. Marking its 40th anniversary this year, Nomex – the same fiber that helps protect firefighters – is inherently flame-resistant. In fiber and paper form, it is used in the aircraft's flooring, wallcovers, structural parts, electrical cable conduits, wall fabrics and tapestries, carpeting, and fire – blocking seat liners.

Du Pont helps the commercial, private, and military aerospace industry fly farther, faster, safer, and more efficiently. A broad range of Du Pont materials is available for aircraft and parts manufacturers as well as aircraft owners and operators throughout the industry. Advanced fibers, electronic components and composites – help aircraft and parts manufacturers meet demanding strength and weight requirements as well as stringent safety standards for the aeronautics industry. For example, a typical large commercial jet may contain up to 140 miles of wire and cable insulated with Tefzel fluoropolymer resin and Oasis composite wire insulation; lightweight floors, walls and ceilings cored with Kevlar and Nomex high-performance materials; interior walls protected with Tedlar PVF film; and improved efficiency engines with Vespel parts.

Details available from: Du Pont, Tel: +1-302-774-4335