Aerospace & Defense Industry

Compared to traditional materials, polymers show more application potential. The concept of automotive lightweighting has been a big hit in the past few years, and similar lightweighting trends are occurring in many more fields, including aerospace.
Engineering plastics are a key player in the lightweighting challenge. Compared with general-purpose plastics, they have more desirable mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, fatigue resistance and other characteristics, and are therefore a fast-growing class of materials in the plastics industry.
For example, carbon fiber reinforced plastic fuselage panels, it can provide stronger stiffness for the aircraft body, in the face of high-altitude airflow may cause impact damage to the fuselage to further enhance the resistance, and reduce more weight of the whole aircraft, the energy consumption during the flight and then reduce; graphene reinforced composite manufactured aircraft tail, its mechanical properties, heat resistance have been significantly improved, and in the tail fracture In the case of tail fracture, the fracture speed is further curbed, which improves the safety performance of the aircraft.

Weapons manufacturers have made significant progress in recent years in converting military equipment from metal to plastic, driving lightweighting in military applications. Statistics show that plastics can reduce equipment loads by up to 50 percent while keeping troops agile and safe when engaging the enemy.
As science and technology have advanced, stealth has become increasingly indispensable, but traditional metal machinery leaves a significant electromagnetic echo and infrared signature and therefore no longer meets the needs of modern warfare. To counter this threat, modern weaponry has begun to use resin materials on a large scale to enhance stealth. This shell made of polymer composites can reduce position-displaying vibrations in military aircraft and ships. Among others, military helicopters are also equipped with froth blades and carbon fiber fuselages, which can effectively block radar detection.
At the same time, the advantages of injection-molded military equipment in terms of production and transportation significantly save production time and reduce manufacturing costs. Parts manufactured by precision molding can be specially tailored to military specifications and are produced very quickly.
Plastic tactical equipment is common in the military, primarily because of its durability, light weight and weatherproof and non-conductive nature of the material. While steel has long been the ideal material for military use, plastics are revolutionizing the field.
At the same time, military equipment made of metal often requires careful maintenance, and maintenance materials and maintenance equipment can increase military spending, but if you choose plastic materials you can easily wipe away the dirt.

PEEK (polyetheretherketone) and PAI (polyimide) are two of the most commonly used super engineering plastics in the aerospace industry.