Jiangsu Hansu Unveils High‑Performance UD Composite Tapes for Aerospace Applications

Photo Credit: Jiangsu Hansu

On Sept. 4 thermoplastic composites manufacturer, Jiangsu Hansu New Material Co., Ltd. (Suzhou, China) introduced at the China Composites Expo 2020, its new family of high-performance, unidirectional (UD) composite tapes — H-poly-Stallone-CF7000_PEI — made with continuous carbon fiber and SABIC (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) ULTEM 1000F3SP powder.

The company worked with SABIC to develop the UD tapes for potential use in high-performance aerospace applications such as seat frames and luggage compartments. As a possible replacement for metal, it is said these UD tapes provide opportunities to reduce weight, improve fuel efficiency and support sustainability — key goals for the aircraft industry. SABIC’s ULTEM powder, a form of advanced polyetherimide (PEI) is said to elevate the performance of tapes by supplying inherent flame retardance, long-term heat stability, outstanding strength and stiffness and dimensional stability.

PEI is reportedly one of the highest-performing thermoplastics in commercial production. It is an amorphous polymer with a very high Tg (around 70°C higher than polyetheretherketone (PEEK)) and provides excellent impact resistance. It also provides outstanding flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) performance, as confirmed in standard Ohio State University (OSU) tests.

“Our collaboration with SABIC has enabled us to expand our portfolio from materials for computer electronics into the higher-performance composites space where we are able to meet the most stringent demands of aerospace applications,” says Xu Shenggang, chief technology officer, Jiangsu Hansu. “Selecting ULTEM 1000F3SP powder allows us to offer an alternative to traditional epoxies widely used in the industry. It provides an exceptional balance of properties, while providing more-efficient processing than thermosets, since curing is not needed.”

During the manufacturing process, Jiangsu Hansu combines continuous carbon fibers with ULTEM 1000F3SP powder, a product offering Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) compliance and a glass transition temperature (T_g) of 217ºC. The easy dispersion of ULTEM 1000F3SP powder in water makes it possible to create a homogeneous slurry that is uniformly distributed among the carbon fibers. The resulting composite tape has highly consistent properties, which are critical for demanding aerospace applications.

“Our ULTEM 1000F3SP powder was a game-changer for Jiangsu Hansu, enabling them to create their high-performance UD composite tapes to address the needs of their customers in the aerospace industry,” says Lili Xu, senior business manager, SABIC. “This advanced material helps position Jiangsu Hansu to penetrate an entirely new market sector that offers tremendous growth opportunities. It also underscores how SABIC collaborates with customers to help them succeed.”

SABIC notes that it also produces ULTEM resin in injection molding grades. Injection molded components can then be thermoformed with UD composite tape and over-molded with functional elements — all with the same polymer. The advantages of this approach include the potential for recyclability and a high level of design flexibility.