The company claims that Victrex AE250 composites have shown a weight savings of up to 60% under certain circumstances when compared to metals such as aluminum, stainless steel and titanium. The composites have also shown an up to reported 5x higher specific strength compared to those of metals.
“Victrex sees this as another excellent opportunity to support our customers by being a total solutions provider,” said Tim Herr, aerospace director at Victrex. “Our innovative PAEK composites, paired with the revolutionary hybrid molding technology, bridge the gap between composites and injection molding. It enables the manufacture of complex composite parts which have not been possible until now.”
With Victrex AE250 composites being used as inserts in existing injection molding equipment, the hybrid molding process enables the overmolding of a continuously-reinforced thermoplastic composite with Victrex PEEK injection molding polymers. The company claims that the hybrid molding technology offers major advantages, including improved cycle times, lower energy requirements and the elimination of scrap and secondary operations, which help to reduce the total system cost.