Aerospace: Composite Foam Combat Aerial Vehicles

摘要

Plastic foam technology designed for surfboard manufacture is being applied to the structural core material for wings of the X-45A unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV). The developer, Foam Matrix, received Boeing's Supplier Innovation Award, to become the first Phantom Works supplier to receive such recognition. The ribs, stringers, electrical conduit and other wing parts are machined into a single mold tool using the firm's 'Foam Matrix Core' (FMC) system. The entire wing is molded as a one piece epoxy/urethane foam core. On curing, the foam core is wrapped in composite fibers and returned to the FMC mold tool for resin injection and final cure.