Can Fluoropolymers Take Flight in the Aerospace Industry?

The Friendly Skies Are Calling for (More) Fluoropolymers

Sure – fluoropolymers have a long, well-established track record of use in lab settings. But are they also fit for flight? To be more specific, do they have a place on modern passenger planes? Historically, both machined PTFE and injection molded PFA have been used to create components – but only to a limited extent.

But with major aircraft manufacturers moving away from heavier materials and trying to make aircraft as light and fuel efficient as possible, a larger potential market for fluoropolymers is developing.

A New Frontier For Savillex and Fluoropolymers

When thinking about suitable materials for a passenger plane, there are a few non-negotiables: Whatever you use needs to be highly durable, able to withstand extreme temperatures, non-flammable and non-reactive.

Savillex is no stranger to creating high-performing components for demanding environments, but when we got the call to design a custom component for a leading aircraft manufacturer, it was a new frontier. Read the full Success Story to learn how we set about creating a flight-friendly part for our client and get a glimpse at the future of fluoropolymers in aerospace.