In August 2019, SGL Carbon (Wisbaden, Germany) began to provide two special fiberglass non-crimp fabrics for the new Airbus Helicopter Company (Marignane, France) H145. These materials are used in the 5-blade rotor of the new helicopter. The material was developed in close cooperation with Airbus Helicopters, and the future of this application will be considerable.
Due to its unidirectional fiber orientation, the fabric provides good resistance and support for the new geometry of particularly long H145 rotor blades. These fabrics were manufactured using a multi-stage process at the SGL Carbon plant in Willich near Düsseldorf and delivered to the Airbus Helicopter Company in Paris.
"The order underscores our growing influence in the aerospace business. With Airbus Helicopter Fabrics, we have achieved for the first time, qualified and started mass production of the material concept of major structural components." Composite Materials-Fiber and Materials Business Unit Dr. Andreas Erber, head of the aviation department, said. SGL Carbon Materials.
The current delivery is part of a framework contract with Airbus Helicopters, which aims to gradually strengthen cooperation.
It is said that the new composite 5-blade rotor configuration for the H145 can provide an additional useful load of 150 kg, while also enhancing the comfort, simplicity and connectivity in flight.