HexMC® Parts
HexMC® Molded Composite Parts
Composite materials are progressively replacing aluminum and other metal alloys in commercial airplanes. Weight-saving is the principal reason for this move to composites as lighter planes mean reduced operating costs. There is also lower maintenance with composites, which demonstrate better fatigue performance and no corrosion.
As new aircraft designs move increasingly to composite primary structures, a number of smaller complex geometry parts are required to connect them to the various system components. In the past these parts have been machined, cast or forged from aluminum or titanium and could not be made from composites in a cost-effective way.
This was until the launch of HexMC®, a new form of cost-effective carbon fiber epoxy molding material that has now become baseline for a large number of primary structures on the new generation of commercial airplanes. HexMC® enables complex shapes to be manufactured in series production while providing weight savings that are comparable to those achieved with aerospace carbon/epoxy prepregs.
HexMC® Capabilities
Hexcel has full design, manufacturing and testing capability to support HexMC® aerospace customers. We can team with customers and develop HexMC® parts from structural, space envelope and other requirements.
Optimized static guide vane demonstrator designed , analyzed, fabricated and tested by Hexcel.
