Aerospace Applications of Thermoplastic Composites
Keep up with the latest in thermoplastic composites for aerospace
Application | Applicable LATP Process | Material (Reinf./Matrix) | Advantages |
Satellite Bus Panels | In-situ LATP | Carbon / PPS, PEKK | Lightweight, dimensionally stable, compatible with honeycomb cores |
Solar Array Substrates / Deployment Booms | In-situ LATP | Carbon / PEKK, PEEK | High stiffness, ultra-low outgassing, tailorable fiber paths |
Satellite Equipment Panels (Internal) | LATP + Vacuum Forming | Carbon / PPS, PEKK | EMI shielding options, easy to modify during design iterations |
Payload Adapter Skirts / Rings | LATP + Hot Stamping | Carbon / PPS, PEKK | Low mass-to-stiffness ratio, excellent damping, weldable joints |
Radiator Panels (Deployable or Fixed) | In-situ LATP | Carbon / PPS or PEKK | Thermal conductivity, flatness, in-orbit dimension stability |
Launcher Fairing Internal Panels (Secondary) | LATP + Hot Stamping | Carbon / PPS | Flame resistance, low density, compatible with large surface areas |
Structural Panels for CubeSats / Smallsats | In-situ LATP | Carbon / PPS or PEKK | Rapid prototyping, high stiffness, thermal cycling resistant |