The French Safran (SAFRAN) Group recently signed an agreement to adopt advanced resin composite materials on LEAP aircraft engines and other equipment. CFM International, a joint venture between Safran and GE, specializes in the manufacture of air-jet engines for Airbus, Boeing and COMAC projects.
Under the agreement, composite technology will be used to manufacture key structural components of the engine, including fan blades, fan casings, acoustic panels and packing grooves, and composite materials are developed and manufactured by Solvay. Solvay opened an advanced resin plant in Osterlingen, Germany, in 2016 to serve the LEAP aero engine project. Some of the materials on the LEAP engine will be produced at the plant.
Thierry, vice president of materials procurement at Safran Group, said: "Solvay has been a long-term trusted supplier of Safran and offers advanced composite materials in multiple engine and cabin programs. The agreement emphasizes not only continuing to strengthen LEAP project cooperation, It will also strengthen cooperation on more projects between the two groups.
Carmelo, president of Solvay Composites Global Business Unit, said: "Safran's composite technology, expertise and safe supply chain will continue to support Safran's production of this highly innovative aero engine in the next few years. LEAP engine The design takes advantage of composite materials to reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, noise and maintenance costs."
Resin composites are lightweight and high-strength. Based on the development of aerodynamic design, structural design and composite technology, composite fan blades can further improve the thrust-to-weight ratio and fuel efficiency of aircraft, reduce noise and harmful gas emissions, and replace traditional Materials such as titanium alloys are used in aero engines. The use of composite materials can reduce the weight of the fan and engine, and improve the specific stiffness, fatigue performance, damage and defect tolerance. The use of advanced composite materials in aerospace engines is the only way to achieve higher bypass ratios and weight reduction, which also provides a rare opportunity for composite materials to be widely used in aerospace engines.
