On March 18, Toray Advanced Composites (TAC) announced the successful first flight of an aircraft component made from the world's first fully recycled carbon fiber-reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) thermoplastic composite material.
The component, an access panel for an experimental rotorcraft, was made from recycled TorayCetex® TC1100 continuous carbon fiber reinforced PPS thermoplastic composites. These composites underwent an innovative two-step recycling process to form an extruded "dough" that was then compression molded into the final component to achieve high mechanical properties.
The access panels feature molded stiffening ribs, variable thickness, and molded holes with tabs. These design elements ensure that the part has the necessary flight strength while making it easy to install in an aircraft.
