SUPERSONIC AIRCRAFT

Setting out to revolutionize the speed of travel with an economically viable supersonic jetliner, Boom Technology is integrating new engine and materials technologies to produce an economically viable supersonic passenger aircraft. 

This delta winged aircraft will utilize advanced composites from TenCate for the structure. Steven Mead, chief commercial officer for TenCate says "we are happy to be part of this innovative program, and we will partner with Boom to provide both material qualification and technical support services with our composite materials.”

The market for this supersonic aircraft is estimated to be as high as 1000 -1300 aircraft.  Boom has already seen significant interest from Virgin Galactic, which has secured a position for the first 10 Boom production aircraft. In addition, Boom has assembled a world class team of designers and aerospace industry business leaders to be a global leader in this segment. Go Boom, Go Supersonic!

Current design:

> Mach 2.2 tri-jet using a commercial/military engine design

> Capable of supercruise without afterburners

> 4,000 nautical mile range

> 50 seats

The Delft Hyperloop team won the overall award and the Best Construction & Design award at the January 2017 competition.  Their pod, which measured 4.5 m long and 0.85 m in diameter, was the first pod shell to be designed using carbon fiber composites, also winning the “Pod Innovation Award” during the competition’s January 2016 design weekend.

TenCate provided Delft’s team with TenCate 8020 epoxy-based carbon fiber composite prepregs for the manufacture of the monocoque, resulting in a strong, yet  lightweight pod weighing only 149 kg.  

WHERE MATERIALS MEET INNOVATION

The Hyperloop concept, coined in 2013, was described as the “fifth mode of transportation.”  Combining the convenience of rail with the speed of air travel, the SpaceX Hyperloop pod competition has an ethos of sharing knowledge and promoting partnership and innovation.

 “We were excited to be part of TU Delft’s journey during this historic Hyperloop pod competition” states Steven Mead, chief commercial officer of TenCate Advanced Composites, “This is a prime example of where the inherent lightweight and strong properties of advanced composite materials meet the demand for the new frontiers of mass transportation.”

Boeing AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter

Late in 2016, TenCate's TC250 epoxy prepregs were qualified to the following Boeing Apache composite material specifications:  HMS16-1252, HMS16-1256 & HMS16-1257. 

In addition, TenCate's TC235SF composite surfacing films were qualified to the HMS16-1258 specification and TenCate's TC263 high-peel strength film adhesive was listed on the HMS16-1278 QPL.  And lastly, TenCate's TC250 nylon peel ply was listed on the HMS15-1148 QPL.  

This full suite of materials represented twelve materials forms, and they were all qualified in less than a year.   We are proud to be part of this important program. 

GLOBAL PARTNER FOR AEROSPACE COMPOSITES

The drivers for the selection of TenCate materials were:

> Greater value

> Short lead times

> Comprehensive technical support

All differentiators that are important to a growing program like the Apache.

Erickson INCorporated S-64E Air-crane

Erickson Inc. licensed the popular Sikorsky S-64 SkyCrane to serve the oil and gas market, as well as the heavy lift requirements of timber and logging. This proven design was in need of an upgrade from a metal to a composite blade. 

After careful study and evaluation, Erickson chose TenCate’s BT250E-6 epoxy prepregs which have a FAA conformed database on the four material forms commonly used in composite helicopter blade construction. This database includes fiber glass fabrics, intermediate modulus carbon fiber UD tapes, S-2 glass UD tapes, and carbon fiber fabrics.

This new blade is lighter, stronger and stiffer than the old metal design, allowing improved performance. 

Read here the review of the summary technical presentation. 

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Looking Forward

The near future shows a variety of unmanned rotorcraft delivering supplies both in war torn areas, and to remote regions. This is part of a larger UAV market focused on delivery, surveillance, security, observation and a variety of innovative new businesses. Advanced composites will play a major role in these new rotorcraft programs providing high strength, lightweight and improved damage tolerance. With the exception of the downturn in oil & gas spending, the outlook for helicopters has remained strong and will continue to grow both in innovation and quantity.

PARTNERING IN INNOVATION

TenCate has been working with A&P Technology to utilizing their QISO™ balanced braided fabrics in a variety of applications. This specific application used A&P's QISO fabrics to make composite helicopter transmission spur gears. This was part of a NASA sponsored program to evaluate heavy steel gears could be displaced with lightweight composite gears to save weight and reduce vibration. A helicopter’s drive system makes up 10-15% of a helicopter’s weight, and is a contributor to helicopter noise due to vibration. This NASA Glenn SBIR program focused on making the gear hub out of A&P Technology’s QISO carbon fiber fabric with TenCate's TC275-1 while keeping the gear teeth steel for durability.

TC275-1 with QISO fabrics will be the subject of an upcoming technical paper at SAMPE Seattle 2017.

TenCate TC380 OOA / VBO Epoxy Prepreg

TC380 is a toughened epoxy with outstanding fracture toughness and CAI strength (40+ ksi / 276 MPa), along with open hole compression strengths of more than 45 ksi (310 MPa). TenCate’s TC380 with high OHC, low moisture absorption and high impact resistance makes this system ideal for aerostructure applications on helicopters, UAVs and military aircraft. TenCate’s TC380 features a 30 day out time with a 21 day tack life to facilitate large assemblies. It can be processed in the autoclave or under vacuum only pressure.

TenCate Cetex® TC1225 ENGINEERED PAEK

TC1225 is an engineered PAEK thermoplastic product available as a carbon based UD tape, RTL laminate and semipreg fabric formats. It can be processed at lower temperatures, 50-75°C below typical PEEK resins. It is ideal for aerostructure applications. It is suitable for overmolding with PEEK to achieve hybrid part consolidation.

TenCate E732 SNAP CURE PREPREG

E732 is a toughened epoxy prepreg designed for hot-in hot-out press molding applications. This system obtains a full T_g of 170°C (338°F) in 4 minutes at 160°C (320°F) and provides good surface finish and aesthetics. Suitable for medium to high volume automotive and industrial applications.

Mary Jane Morris (Morgan Hill, CA, USA)

Mary Jane Morris is the customer service manager for the Morgan Hill, CA location. Before joining TenCate in 2008, she worked for more than twenty years in the advanced materials industry, including Cytec Engineered Materials and Fiberite in both California and Texas. She has had roles in customer service, business segment management and program management. Mary Jane and her team (Michelle, Karen, Addie, Yvonne, Samantha, Linda and Cristina) are proud of providing a high level of service to customers and sales personnel. She values the trust and friendship developed with co-workers and customers over the years.

Mary Jane loves to travel and is always looking forward to yearly vacations with lifelong friends made during her time in the industry. She has been married for 23 years and has a daughter in high school.

Reyna Landers (Fairfield, CA, USA)

Reyna Landers is the customer service manager at our Fairfield facility. She has been with TenCate for eighteen years. When she started with the company, she was working as a receptionist where she gained experience doing Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. She was offered a position in Customer Service shortly thereafter, and has enjoyed it ever since. She enjoys working with TenCate’s customers and loves the daily challenges that the job entails.

Reyna and her Fairfield-based group are the primary point of contact for all inquiries, but primarily responsible for generating quotations, processing and providing status on orders, and coordinating shipments. Reyna enjoys spending time with her family and reading in her free time. She and her husband, John, have a 15 year old son and 7 year old daughter.