CFRP Application in Aircrafts and Aerospace Domains

Contents

CFRP Contributes to Weight Reductions
- What is Carbon? Delving into CFRPs
The Need for Quality Management System Certification
- What is JIS Q 9100?
Aerospace Domain Requirements
- During Launch and in Outer Space
Quality Management
- Doing Repairs in Outer Space?

CFRP Contributes to Weight Reductions

What is Carbon? Delving into CFRPs

The distinctive “lightweight, strong, and non-corrosive” characteristics of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic) have made it one of the most progressive and promising materials today, leading to vast application in diverse fields.

In this issue, we will discuss lightweight properties using examples from a field where weight reductions are of significant importance—aerospace and “flying objects.”

The Need for Quality Management System Certification

What is JIS Q 9100?

JIS Q9100 is an ISO 9001-based standardized quality management system which specifies additional requirements for the quality systems of the aviation, aerospace, and defense industries. The certification is a requirement for any entity that designs, develops, manufactures, or provides products or services in these industries in Japan. In other words, providing products or services that satisfy aviation, aerospace, or defense regulations and user requirements is not possible without ISO Q9100 certification.

CERTIFICATE OF APPROVAL & Appendix (Aerospace Quality Management System)

Aerospace Domain Requirements

During Launch and in Outer Space

Aerospace domain requirements can be broadly split into launch, or lift-off, and outer space operations. First, for rocket launching, both the expense and launching performance capacity of the rocket are highly dependent on its weight and size, meaning reductions in these areas are critical to success. It also requires an extremely robust structure to withstand the vibrations that occur during lift-off. These demands for weight reduction, superior strength, and design versatility, which offer room to alter the strengths in varying orientations, make carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) the perfect fit for the job.

Secondly, for outer space requirements, the mass weight of the rocket is no longer a concern due to the gravity-free atmosphere. That said, in outer space, the rocket solar panels facing the sun and those facing the rear will encounter extreme temperature differences of about 200–300℃ due, partly, to the lack of air and its cooling action. To mitigate these conditions, we employ low-thermal expansion carbon fiber reinforced plastic for the solar battery panels.

Quality Management

Doing Repairs in Outer Space?

As detailed above, while rocket launching and outer space conditions and requirements vary, CFRP offers solutions in both cases. Once a rocket enters space, it cannot be modified or repaired, and the costs and time involved in rebuilding and re-launching a rocket is enormous. Moreover, aerospace environmental and satellite equipment and parts are highly specialized, requiring specific handling and high levels of quality control. For this reason, all processes involved across the entire manufacturing line must be fully traceable. And, as many of the fabrication processes for CFRP and carbon are performed by hand, our technicians must be highly trained accordingly.

Uchida Co. Ltd started out as a mannequin manufacturer in 1968. We have since grown to become a recognized CFRP molding and processing manufacturer using FRP and CFRPs, providing one-stop services from design to manufacturing, coating, quality assurance, and testing.

In 2007, we acquired the JIS Q 9100 certification for the Aerospace Division and have since been expanding our track record in the aviation, aerospace, and defense domain. Uchida offers versatility and adaptability that is not achievable in larger corporations. These strengths underpin our numerous successes in all areas from prototyping to final delivery. Moreover, our production environment offers an expansive clean room with hygiene controls, alongside facilities and systems that meet the specific quality control requirements for the aerospace field.

ABOUT UCHIDA - 55 years since our founding

We leverage a wealth of technical expertise as a CFRP molding and processing manufacturer using FRP, GFRP, and CFRP materials. We offer a one-stop solution, encompassing design, analysis, manufacturing, secondary processing, assembly, painting, quality assurance, and testing.

See Details

UCHIDA's equipment

We have cutting-edge equipment to ensure that we can address even the most advanced challenges of our customers.

DMG森精機 - VS1000/40/2050
X軸：2,050mm（ストローク）／ Y軸：1,000mm ／ Z軸：600mm ／テーブル作業面：2,250×1,000mm

ASHIDA MFG Co., Ltd.
Autoclave Oven 2
Size : Ø1,150x1,000mm / Operating temperature : at normal temperature - 400℃ / Design pressure : 2.0Mpa (maximum working pressure) / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 5

ASHIDA MFG Co., Ltd.
Autoclave Oven 3
Size : Ø3,000x6,000mm / Operating temperature : at normal temperature - 200℃ / Distribution accuracy : ±2.5℃less / Heating rate : 4.0℃/min. (empty furnace) / Cooling rate : 4.0℃/min. (empty furnace) / Design pressure : 0.99Mpa (maximum working pressure) / Working pressure : 0.7Mpa less (if no specification from the manufacuturer 0.3Mpa around) / Pressure accuracy : ±0.02Mpa（for pressure setting of ０ - 0.99Mpa/cm²） / Boost pressure accuracy : 0 - 0.03Mpa/min / Pressure source : compressed air (regular use) / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

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Oven
Size : W1,000xH1,000xD1,000mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 300℃ / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature (20 - 40℃) - 300℃ / 45min less / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

ESPEC CORP.
Temperature & Humidity Chamber

INSTRON
Static Universal Testing Machine 5985

Oven
Size : W7,000xH3,000xD2,000mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 300℃ (Max) / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature (20 - 40℃) - 300℃ / 60min less / Vacuum system : back suction system / Vacuum units : 10

NEO
X axis : 4,000mm (stroke) / Y axis : 2,000mm / Z axis : 1,200mm / C axis : 0° - ±270° / B axis : 0° - ±110° / Table working place : 4,000x2,000mm

【開発】
3Dプリンター | Markforged

Painting booth
Various painting, and clear finish is done in dedicated painting booth

Adhesion, Finishing, Coating Room
Finishing process, such as trimming, drilling, and bonding, surface treatment of the molded product type and is done in a private booth

Toshiba Matrixeye EX (Ultrasonic flaw detector)
Matrix-Arrey : 32

AMETEK CREAFORM Metra
SCAN750 Elite (3D scan)

Olympus Corp.
Inverted Microscopes

Oven
Size : W450xH450xD450mm / Temperature range : Environmental Temperature +20 - 650℃ / Temperature elevation capability : Environmental Temperature+50 - 650℃/120min less

Cutting Plotter Table working place : W1,500xL3,500mm

SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD
Cutting Plotter

KUKA
Robot

Krauss Maffei
Epoxy resin injection machine Resin 60L ／ Hardener 25L

Krauss Maffei
630t Press machine Height total 5,200mm ／ Length max 1,500mm ／ Width max 1,200mm ／ Whole cycle time per component part 240sec

DMG森精機 - NV5000B/40
X軸：1,020mm（ストローク）／ Y軸：510mm ／ Z軸：510mm ／テーブル作業面：1,320×600mm

Big sized clean room
JIS B 9920 cleanliness class maximum concentration (Pcs/m³） / Class 5 : 100,000m³ / Capacity : m² (16,000x16,000mm) 760m² (16,000x16,000x3,000mm) / Temperature and humidity condition : Temperature : 23℃±3℃, Humidity 65% less / Ambient conditions : Temperature 35℃ during summer, Humidity 70% less / Ambient conditions : Temperature 35℃ during summer, Humidity 70% less / Temperature -5℃ during winter, Humidity 40% less