25th April 2019: Aerospace foam is a common insulation material used to fill open cervices in between the outer shell and passenger compartment. It has numerous functions such as reducing engine noise, safeguarding the mechanical systems from temperature variations and moisture, which may otherwise lead to corrosion, and regulating temperature. Noise produced by airplanes causes disturbance, which ultimately demands efficient, improved airplane foams. In the previous years, micro-light fiberglass was used for aircraft insulation, which could potentially absorb the moisture but added unnecessary weight to the vehicle.
Excellent properties of polyurethane foam to benefit aerospace and automotive industries
The major product types can be stated as polyethylene, metal, polyurethane, and ceramic, among others. The material currently holds maximum segment and is expected to lead in the forthcoming years as well due to cellular structure characteristic. Polyurethane presents superior strength-to-weight ratio due to its cross-linked resin and cellular structure. Its closed-cell structure makes rigid polyurethane foam highly resistant to absorbing water and avoid other related damages.
Besides applications in automobile and aviation industry, the material is also used in appliances, apparel, composite wood, building and construction, flooring, electronics, medical, furnishings, marine, and packaging. In terms of volume, China and United States are the dominant regions in the industry due to growing manufacturing domain and increasing industrialization.
Fuel economy is one of the hot topics for both manufacturers and customers. In the automobile industry, government is strictly focusing on implementing fuel consumption regulations for light trucks and passenger cars. For instance, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) in United States is stressing on achieving fuel efficiency of 54.5 mpg for passenger vehicles by 2025.
Market insights
Increase in demand for cost-efficient airlines has augmented the demand for the material in commercial aircrafts. This can be attributed to the lightweight and excellent insulation properties of the material. Additionally, increasing urbanization, growing government investment in the military flying machines, and increasing use of the product in plane’s interior cabins and flight decks is fueling the market.
Ongoing research and development in improving the material is predicted to offer lucrative growth opportunities in the future. Moreover, progresses in flame & heat-retardant foams is another advancement attracting end-users.
The major players in the industry include ERG Aerospace Corporation; Aerospace Corporation; Aerofoam Industries; Everchem Specialty Chemicals; Solvay; Technifab Inc.; and UFP Technologies.
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