Hexcel and Arkema Join Forces in Thermoplastic Composite Solutions for Aerospace

French chemicals group, Arkema and US-based composite materials expert, Hexcel have signed a strategic alliance to develop thermoplastic composite solutions for the aerospace sector combining the expertise of Hexcel in carbon fibre and that of Arkema in poly ether-ether-ketone (PEEK).

The partnership aims to develop carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic tapes to produce lightweight parts for future generations of aircraft. In addition to lightweighting, these new composites will provide lower cost and faster production speeds for customers in the aerospace and the space and defence sectors, the companies said. As part of this partnership, a joint research and development laboratory will be established in France.

“I am delighted to announce this partnership with Hexcel, a leading advanced composites supplier to the aerospace industry. This association fits in clearly with our strategy to develop advanced thermoplastic composite solutions from our PEKK resins, and takes effect a few months before the commissioning of our new PEKK plant in the United States in Mobile (Alabama) scheduled for the end of 2018,” commented Mr. Thierry Le Hénaff, Arkema’s Chairman and CEO. “We are excited to join this collaboration with Arkema to continue exploring and defining the future of carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastics in the aerospace industry. With this opportunity and our recent acquisition of the aerospace and defence business of Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), Hexcel is quickly becoming an industry leader in advanced composite thermoplastic technologies,” said Mr. Nick Stanage, Hexcel Chairman and CEO.