JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #89 - May 2014 - 41

autoclave (pressure oven) to produce
composite parts. So-called "thermoplastics" are especially promising, because
they harden more readily and quickly. In
addition, thermoplastic components become pliable when heated, which means
they can easily be bonded together.
These improved modelling and assembly
characteristics are counterbalanced by
the fact that high-grade thermoplastics,
in particular, are still very costly. However, low-grade thermoplastics - best
described as plastic with inlaid carbon
fibres - are a lot cheaper and their quality
has improved to such a degree that they
can now be used for the mass production
of automotive components.

strengthened by simply adding some
strengthening rivets, as is done with
aluminium. Still, they do have clear advantages: they are lighter, stiffer and less
prone to material fatigue. Moreover, they
can help to increase passenger comfort,
because they allow higher humidity in
aircraft cabins, which could cause corrosion in aluminium structures. Thanks
to composites, dry eyes and airways
are a thing of the past for passengers.
These materials also allow higher cabin
pressure, without exerting excessive load
on the fuselage. That means passengers
will feel like they are breathing thin air
at 2,000 meters, rather than on top of a
3,000-meter peak.

More comfort for passengers

New fibre-placement machine

An aircraft made entirely of composites is a utopian ideal. These materials
are well-suited to shell structures like
fuselages and wings, which are subject to
high load in a horizontal plane, but they
are less suitable for aircraft components
consisting of vertical layers, because the
resin between layers, the weakest link,
can separate. Moreover, composites have
a general disadvantage in that they are
more brittle and more difficult to repair
after an impact. Composites cannot be

NLR is a major international player in
thermoplastic research and development.
Its research domain includes product
development, machining, testing, methodology development, load testing and
certification. This integrated knowledge
has made NLR a highly attractive partner
for the Dutch composite industry.
Following the lead of the air transport
industry, more and more ship, vehicle
and rocket manufacturers from the Netherlands, but also increasingly from coun-

tries like China, Russia and Brazil, are
approaching NLR. This interest is likely
to increase further, following NLR's
recent acquisition of a new, state-of-theart fibre placement machine that can be
used to build prototypes. This machine
is special because it can process different
types of composites and is capable of
producing virtually any type of object,
including large ones with complex shapes
and higher TRL levels. Besides making prototypes, NLR uses this facility
to conduct basic research. For instance,
it is possible to accurately ascertain the
production time of a certain object and
the properties the object will have. This
facility is not the last of its kind, because
NLR intends to purchase a new facility
controlled by robotic technology, enabling wholly automated draping, cutting,
jointing and pressing of composites.

Enterprise,
development and education

This collaborative venture, involving
industry, educational institutions and
NLR, has seen the institute offering students research positions and internships.
This has mutual benefits, with students
gaining practical experience, while NLR
gains access to the latest theoretical expertise. Furthermore, those students who
go on to establish their own businesses
will already be familiar with NLR and
will know who to approach for expertise
and advice. n
NLR's state-of-the-art fibre placement machine can be used to build prototypes. What makes the machine
really special is its capability to process different composite materials and to make virtually any type of object,
including large ones with complex shapesl

No89 May 2014 /

More information:
www.nlr.nl

Feature Aeronautics

NLR also conducts more fundamental
research into composites. Among other
things, the lab is studying how to better
detect and repair composites damaged by
impact. In addition, NLR is working on
new weight-saving braiding techniques.
These activities demonstrate its central
role in the latest advances in the development and application of composites.
NLR will further consolidate its role as
an R&D department for industry in the
Netherlands with the establishment of
Compoworld.

jec composites magazine 41

http://www.nlr.nl

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #89 - May 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #89 - May 2014