Boeing has approved Hexcel Corporation as a supplier of aerospace structures for major commercial aircraft platforms. Following a review of Hexcel’s proprietary poly-ether-ketone-ketone and carbon fibre material formulations, the company’s HexPEKK-100 end-use components, as well as its highly-controlled HexAM additive manufacturing process (which uses selective laser sintering), are now obtainable through Boeing’s qualified provider list (QPL). These HexPEKK components will be manufactured-to-print for commercial aerospace applications.
Hexcel claims that its processes enable high-rate serial part production with reduced lead-times at a lower cost compared with conventional intricately machined aluminium or composite structures. HexPEKK-100 parts meet interior aircraft smoke and toxicity requirements and can be used in the manuafcture of complex aircraft interior components such as optimised brackets, environmental control system ducts, and castings.
