Bonding composites - Aeronautical sector

The aeronautics industry is a pioneer in the use of high-performance composites (based on carbon, Kevlar and glass fibers), often assembled by bonding, and has been doing so for several decades. This assembly method has in fact been used and developed for its efficiency, the strength of the assemblies and the lighter weight of the structures it provides (see the articles "Choosing adhesive bonding for composite assembly" and "Composite assembly"). , "Material bonding. Mechanisms. Classification of adhesives". , "Bonding of materials. Applications." . The aeronautics sector is the source of numerous innovations, whether in the formulation of new adhesives, the development of application processes, adhesive bond testing methods or construction materials (honeycombs).

The use of composite materials in aircraft construction began around 1970 (see figure 1 in the article "Metal bonding. Find out more " ). Since then, the proportion of composite parts has grown rapidly in number and importance, first on military aircraft, then on civil aircraft from the early 1980s.

The aeronautics and aerospace sector remains an innovator in this field, and should be seen as a source of technology transfer to other industrial sectors, notably automotive, shipbuilding, armaments and mechanical engineering.

This article is part of a series devoted to composite bonding:

• Choice of adhesive for bonding composites ;

• Bonding composites. General ;

• Bonding composites. Aerospace sector ;

• Bonding composites. Road and rail sectors ;

• Composite bonding. Shipbuilding sector ;

• Bonding composites. Construction, sports, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering ;

• Bonding composites. To find out more , where readers will find technical information (technical data sheets for certain adhesives), lists of suppliers of adhesives, materials and services, French, European, international and American standards, as well as sources of information (Internet sites, standards bodies or competence centers).

More broadly, this article completes the set devoted to the bonding of materials:

• Material bonding. Mechanism. Adhesive classification ;

• Bonding materials. Application and characteristics of adhesives ;...