This achievement stems from the strategic partnership between Hexcel and Arkema. The high-performance thermoplastic composite structure was designed and manufactured using HexPly thermoplastic tapes. These aerospace-grade materials are developed from Arkema’s Kepstan PEKK resin and Hexcel HexTow AS7 and IM7 carbon fibers. The demonstrator project was carried out as part of the collaborative project known as HAICoPAS (Highly Automatized Integrated Composites for Performing Adaptable Structures). The primary goal of HAICoPAS is to optimize the design and production process for unidirectional composite tapes made from high-performance thermoplastic resins and continuous carbon fibers. The project also aims to develop a more efficient tape placement technology and a novel continuous and dynamic in-situ welding (ISW) assembly system with real-time quality control. Ultimately, the objective is to produce composite parts that can replace metallic materials (such as steel, aluminum, and titanium) in aircraft structures, achieving both cost competitiveness and high production rates. Read more: reinforcedplastics.com/...