Aerospace
Aurora Material Solutions offers a robust portfolio of compounds for exacting aerospace applications.
Our AuroraGuard™ product line, known for high durability, includes polyetherimide (PEI), thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) and custom thermoplastic olefin (TPO) compounds.
Our AuroraGuard PEI compounds provide a high resistance to elevated temperatures and solvents, exhibit excellent mechanical strength and are inherently flame resistant. PEI can be used in a number of aerospace applications, including manufacturing structural components, such as ducts, brackets and housings that are lightweight, strong and able to withstand high temperatures. It can be used in additive manufacturing processes such as Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to produce complex shapes and parts with high accuracy and excellent mechanical properties.
AuroraGuard TPE compounds are a class of copolymers or a physical mix of polymers that consist of materials having both thermoplastic and elastomeric properties. While most elastomers are thermosets, thermoplastics are in contrast relatively easy to use in manufacturing. They also can be recycled. These polymers resemble elastomers in that they are highly resilient and can be repeatedly stretched to at least twice their initial length with full rapid recovery, but are true thermoplastics and thus do not require curing or vulcanization as most rubbers.
AuroraGuard TPO compounds can be color matched with UV additives to pass OEM accelerated weathering and two year outdoor weathering tests. Recent TPO development efforts are concentrated on high-melt flow compounds for thin wall and complex injection molding applications. We are able to achieve high melt flow rate while maintaining required physical properties, low weight, low CLTE, stiffness and impact balance.
For the aerospace industry, we also offer a line of AuroraFlex™ flexible PVC is a cost-effective alternative to our thermoplastic elastomers. These compounds provide flexible PVC from 35A to 95A Shore A durometer* to semi-rigid, with specific gravities ranging from 1.15 to 1.65. We use various types of compound additives to promote plasticity and flexibility to meet specific needs, such as renewable non-phthalate, improved low temperature tolerance and biocides. When you’re looking for a compound that offers high-abrasion resistance and excellent processing properties, AuroraFlex SL is designed to produce longer-lasting materials, with no tearing.
AuroraFlex SBS and SEBS compounds utilize multiple TPE/TPR chemistries to impart high-performance properties for durability and easy processing. These materials have many of the same properties as vulcanized rubber, but can be molded and extruded using conventional thermoplastic process equipment. Thermoplastic processing provides advantages over vulcanized, thermoset rubbers, which are processed using a slower and more costly curing process. Most of our TPR formulations are 100% recyclable and are RoHS compliant. TPE options are available as low as 10A* up to 50D durometer hardness. Some of our TPEs are offered in clear, as well as oil free grades.
In addition to our existing portfolio, our team can work with you to engineer, test, manufacture and deliver a custom compound for your specific aerospace application.
* NOTE: Durometer hardness is measured with a calibrated durometer using the Shore Type-A scale in a room of consistent temperature. The indenter is inserted for 15 seconds to determine if it passes the ASTM D2240-Durometer Hardness test for the desired durometer.
