Recently, the German Aerospace Center Network announced that the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has demonstrated a new technology that can weld pressure domes made of thermoplastic carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Its lightweight material production technology center in Augsburg, Germany, is able to complete the production of 1:1 proportional test components similar to the A320 series of aircraft pressure chambers in a short time.
In the experiment, the German Aerospace Center found that the welding technology can also be used for large, curved long-weld parts. Through the application of this technology, the processing time of large aircraft parts can be shortened, the process cost can be reduced and the productivity can be improved. As of now, the application of thermoplastic materials is limited to smaller components, such as thermoplastic clips for the composite body of the A350 XWB aircraft.
Samples of large composite parts made by the German Aerospace Center were also exhibited at the Berlin Air Show.
