SGL Carbon delivers composites for Airbus Helicopter rotor blades

These materials are used in the new, especially efficient five-blade rotor. Developed in close collaboration with Airbus Helicopters, the material has been qualified for the application for the next years to come.

Thanks to their unidirectional fibre orientation, the fabrics are extremely resistant, providing optimal support for the new geometry of the especially long H145 rotor blades. The fabrics are manufactured at the SGL Carbon site in Willich near Düsseldorf in a multi-stage process and delivered to Airbus Helicopters in Paris.

“The order emphasises our growing presence in the aerospace business,” stated Dr Andreas Erber, Head of the Aerospace segment in the business unit Composites – Fibres & Materials at SGL Carbon. “With the fabrics for Airbus Helicopters, we have realised, qualified, and started serial production for a material concept for primary structural components for the first time.”

The current deliveries are part of a framework contract with Airbus Helicopters, intended to gradually intensify collaboration. Besides the current development of materials for helicopter components, Airbus Helicopters and SGL Carbon have worked together in the area of component material processing for Airbus group aircraft doors for years. In addition, Airbus and SGL Carbon are jointly involved in various associations and research projects in the area of components, such as Carbon Composites.

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