Airbus A340/A380 take off with Fortron from Ticona

Plastic composites from Ticona replace aluminium on the wings

05-Jun-2002

Toulouse, June 5, 2002 - Fibre-reinforced composites (FRP) based on the high-performance polymer Fortron (polyphenylene sulphide/PPS) from Ticona will play a key role in the new Airbus series A340-500/600 and A380. At the invitation of Airbus Toulouse and the German Aviation Press Club (Luftfahrtpresseclub Deutschland), Prof. Ernst Schadow, Celanese AG and Gunther Reitzel, Ticona gave a presentation on Fortron and its uses in the aircraft industry.

"Our expertise and innovative capacity lie in the chemical industry and high-performance plastics. I am proud that Airbus is using our engineering plastics to make the new generation of aircraft more lightweight, ecofriendly and economic," said Prof. Enst Schadow, Board member of Celanese AG. He continued by saying that: "Together with our partners, we have established our position in the high-end range of applications in aircraft construction with Fortron PP

Lower fuel consumption, longer range and higher passenger capacity

"The use of PPS in aircraft construction makes it possible to reduce component weight, so achieving lower fuel consumption, higher passenger capacity and longer range at the same time. With Fortron PPS, we offer modern aircraft construction the solution of replacing metal with plastic, even in applications with high material specifications. Quite simply, with plastics you can fly lighter, faster, further and better!" enthused Gunther Reitzel, Commercial Manager Fortron.

Some 20 percent of the components for the Super Airbus, which will carry 550 passengers, are expected to be made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRP). Ticona are closely involved: Fortron, the PPS from Ticona, will form the matrix for the extremely light and robust composites used for the wing leading-edge nose on the A380.

https://www.chemeurope.com/en/news/11111/airbus-a340-a380-take-off-with-fortron-from-ticona.html