TraNa – Colorable and Flame-Resistant Sheet Molding Compo

Development of flame-retardant and translucent SMC semifinished products for interior applications in aircraft

In the joint project “TraNa”, novel flame-retardant and at the same time translucent or homogeneously colorable SMC formulations are being developed for use in aircraft cabins. An epoxy resin system filled with Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) nanoparticles is used as matrix.

In the aviation sector, environmentally friendly solutions are becoming increasingly important in view of the high awareness and relevance of climate change. In the passenger cabin, the focus is on both ecological and efficient lightweight construction. Due to the very high design freedom with economical manufacturing costs and efficient production processes, while at the same time avoiding environmentally harmful phenolic resins, Sheet Molding Compounds (SMC) offer a high potential for their use in the cabin sector. Up to now, polyester or vinyl ester-based SMC semi-finished products with particulate flame-retardants have mostly been used in the cabin sector to meet the strict fire protection requirements (FST = Fire, Smoke, Toxicity). However, this requires very high filler contents, which have a negative effect on the optical quality of the components (forma-tion of streaks, lack of colorability) as well as on the achievable mechanical properties and necessitate high semi-finished product densities. This significantly limits the application possibilities for current SMCs in aircraft cabins. Most applications in visible components have to be provided with a cost-intensive and environmentally harmful additional coating due to the poor optical quality. In addition, current SMC semi-finished products are exclusively opaque.

Field of competence

Project status

  • Current

Partners:

  • CompriseTec GmbH
  • Fraunhofer-Institut für Angewandte Polymerforschung IAP (Wildau)
  • Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC (Würzburg)
  • jetlite GmbH
  • Nabaltec AG
  • Polynt Composites Germany GmbH
  • Recaro Aircraft Seating GmbH & Co. KG
  • Schill & Seilacher „Struktol GmbH“
  • Schmidt & Heinzmann GmbH & Co. KG

Contacts

Dr.-Ing.

Florian Gortner

Postdoc Press- & Fügetechnologien

Telephone: +49 631 2017 439

florian.gortner@leibniz-ivw.de

The project “TraNa – Translucent Colorable and Flame-Resistant Sheet Molding Compounds based on Novel Nanoscale Flame Retardants for Applications in the Aircraft Cabin-Interior” is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) on the basis of a decision by the German Bundestag (funding reference 20Q1902C).