Incorporating newer
elements in presently used honeycomb sandwich material to add structural
strength yields fresh possibilities.
Honeycomb sandwich
materials: industry beats
The latest entrant among sandwich panels, where thermoplastic
polymer honeycomb structure meets metal end-sheets is setting serious market
trends. ThermHex’s patented thermoplastic honeycomb core structure, laminated
with aluminum skins, has all desired mechanical properties, minus a
fifty-percent of its previous weight with usual heavy polymer. Realizing market
potential for the technology, TATA Steel announced the launch of Coretinium,
under a license agreement with EconCore, for construction and transportation
applications. In
recent news, EconCore and DuPont also announced collaborative development
of panels with ultra-light cores. Commendable material transformation by DuPont
have enabled customer-centric customization in these panels.
The much sought after technology, which allows continuous
and efficient production of honeycomb core sandwich composite panels from a single
polypropylene sheet, is patented by EconCore. Consecutive in-line
thermoforming, folding, and bonding result in panels with enhanced mechanical
properties. Business segments, based on end-use include aerospace &
ship-building, construction, transportation, furnishing & laminates, power
& energy, and automotive.
Honeycomb sandwich
structure and materials
Honeycomb sandwich structure is crucial to industrial
applications as it adds basic economic advantage that comes with light-weight
architectures. They are achievable in an industrial scenario using three
techniques; basically – expansion, corrugation, molding, and more recently
extrusion as well as certain others. Quite literally imitating a natural
honeycomb, these structures are tough, stiff, and have high-resilience to
compressive forces plus have insulating benefits.
Automated systems render precise tuning of core thickness
and density, maintaining sustainability in material usage. A wide range of
thermoplastic polymers, carbon fibers, resin-coated papers, fiber paper, and
other composites are now available, along with traditionally used metals and
alloys in this industry.
Prospects in
honeycomb sandwich material market
Analysts suggest manufacturing of around 1700 aircraft units
by the mid of upcoming decade.
GE aviation,
a leading aircraft manufacturer, intends a dedicated composites and metal
fabrication facility in its new plant at Batesville for aircraft engine parts. Honda’s
advent into light jet manufacturing with HondaJet, introduces an entire
fuselage built of honeycomb sandwich composite rather than conventional
aluminum.
Pipeline industries have made the most out of what has been
available on their plate this long. Yet, preposterous dormancy in research and
development activities among material developers and vendors, demands extended
facilities to put scholarly quests to test. Graphene poses tremendous
possibilities as a honeycomb sandwich material for developing superconductive
electronic components. Novice applications await industry’s attention and
focused investment and are bound to return high profit ratios.
According to an analytical report, “Honeycomb
Sandwich Material Market - Opportunities and Forecasts, 2015 – 2022,” recently
published by Allied Market Research, net market evaluation by 2022 is expected
to reach $760.1 million, growing at a CAGR of 10% during the forecast period.
The report includes a detailed presentation of key drivers and restraints that
affect dynamic structure of the industry. Opportunity segments have been
carefully outlined, all segments viewed with stakeholder’s perspective.
In-depth company profiles help them strategize their investment policies and
plays a vital role in shaping future trends.
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