PRO-CFK — Advanced Production Technology for Structures Made of Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymers

Today's manufacture of aircraft composite components is manually intensive. In current technology a subsequent quality test there is usually. A reduction in costs demanded by the market and stimulated by competing metal components can only be achieved by the consistent application of new individual technologies.

The goal of the joint project funded by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour (BMWA) within the LUFO III program is the integration of these individual technologies, which were already developed in earlier projects, into an automated process chain. PRO CFK can be divided into the following sub-projects:

Pro Tex
The development of adapted materials and processes for the manufacture of large composite fiber structures in an automated process chain for dry preforms.

• optimization of the semi-finished textile products
• automated handling and storage of textile cut-outs
• automated layup and vacuum bagging

PROSA

• in-process error detection with immediate intervention
• determination of the “effects of defects” on the subsequent component behavior
• knowledge management of “effects of defects” resulting in defect avoidance measures

Moulding

• wear-resistant surface with a permanent release coating
• low heat capacity, easy to handle
• integrated sensors for process control

Project partners:

• CTC GmbH (project leader)
• Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
• EADS Deutschl. GmbH Milit.flugzeuge
• EADS Deutschland GmbH CRC
• Kayser-Threde GmbH
• Saertex Stade GmbH & Co. KG
• DLR Institut für Faserverbundleichtbau und Adaptronik
• FhG IFAM
• Tenax Fibers GmbH
• Hightex Verstärkungsstrukturen GmbH
• Starnberger Beschichtungen GmbH
• Universität Bremen, BIK
• Faserinstitut Bremen e.V.

Additional information: VTP-NG