Forum: General F-35 Forum

Something we can look forward to being incorporated into the F-35 down the road beyond it's current use for wingtip fairings. Stronger, cheaper and lighter than CFRP and IIRC inherrntly stealthy against a range of EM frequencies, what's not to like?

The JSF program considers Fibermat one of it's most significant achievements to-date

but widespread use of CNRP in the jet may be an even,greater accomplishment.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... es-357223/

Lockheed Martin reveals F-35 to feature nanocomposite structures

By: STEPHEN TRIMBLE WASHINGTON DC

Lockheed Martin has revealed the F-35 Lightning II will be the first mass-produced aircraft to integrate structural nanocomposites in non-load bearing airframe components.
A thermoset epoxy reinforced by carbon nanotubes will replace carbon fibre as the material used to produce F-35 wingtip fairings beginning with low rate initial production (LRIP)-4 aircraft, said Travis Earles, a manager for corporate nanotechnology initiatives.

Meanwhile, the same carbon nanotube reinforced polymer (CNRP) material is being considered to replace about 100 components made with other composites or metals throughout the F-35's airframe, he said.

The shift to CNRP as an airframe material has been anticipated ever since carbon nanotubes were discovered in 1991. It is widely considered one of the strongest materials ever invented - several times stronger than carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), yet lighter by about 25-30%...

3rd
According to Earles, there is no technical reason the material could not be used in load-bearing structures. However, to reduce certification requirements of a structural material, carbon nanotubes are only being considered in non-load bearing components...

Lockheed, however, has invented a process that dramatically reduces the cost to build carbon nanotube composites for aircraft structures, Earles said. The new wingtip fairing is being made for one-tenth of the cost of the equivalent CFRP component, he said...

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Repeated earlier here:

F-35 Features Nanocomposite Structures

http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... p;p=197759

spazsinbad wrote:

Repeated earlier here:

F-35 Features Nanocomposite Structures

http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNph ... p;p=197759

They have certain other properties too. Something to do with the EM frequency range across which they work and how that relates to radar reflectivity I understand...

Any materials guys amongst us want to expand further?

Suffice for me to say they cover more than X band...

BWait!! According to the APA the F-35 is a flying radar reflector Wink

It appears that recertifying the aircraft is something to be avoided at this point in the program and this will delay more extensive use of CNRP on the F-35 any time soon. Perhaps,several years down the road after IOC and once the jet is in FRP?