VICTREX® PEEK™ Polymer Chosen To Replace Metal In Airbus Door Handles

Greenville, SC - In order to comply with stringent aircraft safety standards and reduce the weight on the Airbus' door handle systems, Kunststofftechnik Hans Rethwisch GmbH (KTR), a certified aviation supplier to Airbus, chose VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer as a replacement for the metal handles because of the polymer's ideal mechanical strength and low specific weight.

According to Andrew Ragan, Product Manager, Victrex USA, Inc., "Weight reduction was of paramount importance during the development of the Airbus aircraft. It was an enormous challenge for KTR to meet the Airbus engineers' demands to manufacture the lower casings of the two-piece door handles in plastic. Victrex worked closely with the technical designers at KTR on developing the handles using VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer." Characterized by outstanding mechanical strength and low specific weight, VICTREX® PEEK™ polymer features higher specific strength vs. traditional construction materials, such as aluminum. In addition, it is halogen-free and inherently flame resistant with a V–O fire classification. "Due to its exceptional properties, major companies in the aerospace sector are using the polymer for a number of sophisticated applications," added Ragan.

Initially only a 300 mm (12 inch) version of the door handle was required by Airbus. However, larger door handles measuring over 500 mm (20 inches) soon became necessary for the A380 aircraft. "For these complex geometries," says Ragan, "Victrex recommended using an easy flow carbon fiber reinforced grade, which had to go through an extensive qualification process at Airbus."

The qualification process included various filling simulations and distortion calculations.

SOURCE: Victrex USA, Inc.