ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING IN AEROSPACE
The aerospace industry is undergoing a revolution. New materials, such as high-performance polymers, are enabling the creation of lighter, stronger, and more efficient aircraft. At the forefront of this transformation are GEMCO and its affiliate company, Advanced Powder Solutions (APS).
Innovation
APS has a proven track record of success in the aerospace industry. One example is their collaboration with an aerospace company on a unique polymer for aircraft insulation and adhesives. This material needs to withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, performing flawlessly in a range that stretches from the scorching heat of the Mojave Desert, where temperatures can exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, to the frigid emptiness of outer space, where they can plummet to minus 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
Challenges and Solutions
The aerospace company that partnered with APS needed them for a very specific challenge related to a high-performance polymer they were developing for aircraft. This polymer served a dual purpose: insulation and adhesion.
The polymer, initially resembling a light and fluffy material, needed to be dried to ensure proper function.
This wasn’t our average drying job. The dried polymer needed to withstand a massive temperature swing. These extreme temperature changes can happen very quickly, within seconds or minutes.
Blending and de-lumping: Before drying, the polymer needed to be blended with an emulsion, which initially caused it to clump together like a sticky mass. GEMCO’s technology had to carefully blend and then dry the material without damaging the delicate particles. Essentially, they needed to transform the sticky clumps into a light and flowing powder.
APS introduced a superior solution: a GEMCO dryer that could both blend and dry the polymer in a single machine. This innovation achieved:
- Increased Material Yield: GEMCO’s technology recovered more than 90% of the material, significantly reducing waste compared to the previous method.
- Improved Consistency: The GEMCO dryer ensured consistent results batch after batch, crucial for the aerospace industry’s strict quality standards.
- Simplified Process: The single-machine solution offered by GEMCO streamlined the process, reducing complexity and production time.
Conclusion
The most exciting trend in the aerospace industry is the adoption of additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing. This technology opens doors to a wider range of materials and complex designs. GEMCO and APS are perfectly positioned to meet this challenge, thanks to their highly adaptable machinery. Beside this, they are providing expert advice on powder processing solutions.
GEMCO and APS are partners in innovation. With their advanced technology, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to customer success, they are poised to play a key role in shaping the future of the aerospace industry.
