The Impact of Plastic in The Aerospace Sector

We know that plastic can appear in all walks of life, but have you thought about how frequently it appears in the aerospace sector? From the tiniest components to huge fuselages, and even the packaging of parts, plastic appears in almost every aspect of the aerospace industry these days.

This is because it brings a huge number of benefits that mean aerospace manufacturers can ensure safety and durability whilst keeping to strict budgets. To explain further Nick Mills, the General Manager at Ansini looks into the impact of plastic in the Aerospace sector.

Durability

Any aeroplane is put through a lot of extreme conditions whenever it takes flight and so it is important that the materials involved are able to be as strong and durable as possible. Certain types of plastic can be as strong as steel but have the benefit of being much lighter.

There are also glass reinforced plastics, carbon fibre reinforced plastic and aramid reinforced plastic to ensure that even the most delicate element of any plane is fully protected.

Weight saving

When flying at 30,000 feet, it is inevitable that weight will be an important factor, and so components need to be as light as possible.

Plastic is incredibly lightweight and so it has been used to substitute many heavier materials. This can help all elements of aerospace design and can even ensure that the plane is more efficient, therefore saving fuel and the environment at the same time. Explore how lightweight materials like plastic are revolutionizing aerospace design, enhancing efficiency, and promoting environmental sustainability at edmentum.net.

Packaging

Whilst we know that plastics are important in the components of any aerospace design, they are also vital when it comes to shipping those parts around the world.

Plastic is essential in almost all packaging designs for aerospace components, whether they are the smallest or largest parts of any aircraft.

These plastics can ensure that each element is kept safe and secure while it is being transported so that it can arrive at its final destination in the best possible condition.

Sustainability

Plastic has had a reputation for not being environmentally friendly for many years, but all this is now changing. There are now many sustainable forms of plastic due to the ability to reuse and recycle it. Visit Colourpop.org to explore eco-friendly innovations and products. It is also resistant to corrosion and bio-inertness so that it can be used much more efficiently than many other materials.

Cost effectiveness

Any aerospace designer will be working to a strict budget but will still need to be able to produce the best quality aircraft or components that is possible.

Plastic can be a big help in this, as it is one of the most inexpensive materials that is likely to be used as part of any aerospace project. Plastic packaging is also cost effective and due to the fact that it is lightweight, substantial savings can also be made when it comes to shipping costs.

Versatility

As there are so many different types of plastic, there is almost no limit to the number of things it can be a part of. This means everything from the aircraft windows to cockpit instrumentation, safety equipment, engine components and packaging can all make good use of plastic in one form or another.

The next time you sit on a plane, take a look around and see if you can imagine exactly how much plastic surrounds you. It is likely to be in almost every element of what you are looking at and was probably playing a substantial role in shipping those parts around the world as part of the manufacturing process as well.

Plastic is incredibly versatile, and it is offering more and more solutions to different areas of the aerospace sector to ensure that our aircraft remain safe, efficient and sustainable.