Fortron PPS Reinforced Carbon Composite Tape

A high-quality carbon composite tape made with Fortron polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) engineering thermoplastic from Ticona Engineering Polymers is adding strength and taking the weight out of braided fabric preforms for advanced aircraft interior applications.

A&P Technology produces precision braided textiles and worked with Ticona and a manufacturer of thermoplastic composite tapes to develop the Fortron PPS-based carbon reinforced preform.

They opted to use an engineering thermoplastic instead of a thermoset plastic for two reasons: First, Fortron linear PPS was selected because it can be easily manufactured into tape with carbon, glass and other reinforcements. Second, it offers processing and eco-friendly advantages. Fortron PPS can be used with rapid manufacturing processing, where parts need to be molded quickly. It is recyclable, requires much less energy to process, and contains no volatile organic compounds.

Fortron linear PPS is a semi-crystalline polymer with key features:

• Exceptional high temperature performance to temperatures up to 240°C Outstanding resistance to fuels, oils, solvents and anti-icing agents
• Excellent hardness, stiffness and dimensional stability
• Inherently flame-resistant — meets flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) requirements for aircraft interiors

The material uses a low-cost tape that is slit in nominal widths and braided with specialized equipment.

Ticona Engineering Polymers
Florence, KY
ticona.com