A number of significant global factors is driving the development of novel, advanced composite materials for aerospace and other industries. Almost 50 companies in Scotland are presently active in the composite materials supply chain across the energy, aerospace, marine, automotive and construction sectors.
The worldwide market for aerospace composites
Key factors influencing the growth of the composite materials market include energy efficiency, pressure on natural resources and environmental impact. To enable cost-effective adoption of composites in aerospace, emerging technologies focus on a number of areas, such as:
- Advanced composites using new high-performance materials.
- New design methods.
- New manufacturing methods.
The main composite application processes used in aerospace are:
- Resin transfer moulding.
- Autoclave.
- Pultrusion and filament winding.
Aerospace composites in Scotland
In Scotland, composite activity for the aerospace industry is spread throughout the supply chain, and includes:
- Manufacture of carbon fibres.
- Conversion of technical textiles and polymers.
- Design engineering.
- Integration of manufactured composite products.
The market for technical textiles is growing at 5 per cent per annum. Aerospace composite industry players in Scotland range from micro-businesses to global corporations.
- Scotland has significant capability in carbon and polypropylene fibres and an emerging capacity in textile preforms and cores.
- There is extensive expertise in the research and development and repair and manufacture of composite products in Scotland.
- Extensive composites research, development and training activity takes place at Scottish universities.
- Scottish companies, particularly those already operating in technical textiles, have the potential to address currently unmet market needs on a global basis.
- The presence of major composite end users in the UK provides the platform for Scottish companies to build relationships with these key strategic players.
Contact us to discuss the support we offer to the aerospace composites sector and all other aerospace industries in Scotland