Expandable adhesive film to meet aerospace fire, smoke and toxicity standards

Citation

(2006), "Expandable adhesive film to meet aerospace fire, smoke and toxicity standards", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 78 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2006.12778aad.007

Expandable adhesive film to meet aerospace fire, smoke and toxicity standards

Expandable adhesive film to meet aerospace fire, smoke and toxicity standards

Keywords: Aircraft, Adhesives

Global innovations company 3 M has launched the first adhesive film for aerospace sandwich panels that is stated to fulfil stand alone FST regulations. 3M AF3070 FST can be used to finish edges, splice cores and fill gaps in honeycomb sandwich panels. The film is co-cured with the panels to deliver a high quality edge finish and helps to ensure compliance with FST requirements.

Lightweight and stiff, sandwich panels are a vital element of many modern aircraft interior designs, but joining and finishing such panels can be a costly and time consuming process. The process is made more difficult by the need to pass stringent fire, smoke and toxic gas emission (FST) regulations, which greatly limits the number of acceptable adhesives and joining materials. 3M AF3070 FST is a double-sided, foaming film with an advanced epoxy adhesive. It includes its own in-built halogen-free FST system that allows it meet FST requirements according to both the Airbus ABD 0031 directive and the FAR 25.853 standard.

“This is the first time that interior manufacturers have been able to obtain both foaming characteristics and FST properties in the same product”, says John Cobb, transportation manager for 3 M UK and Ireland, “Against a background of increasing cost pressures, rising quality demands and ever-tightening safety regulations, this product is going to solve a lot of pressing problems of aircraft interior manufacturers”.

Typical applications for AF3070 FST include overhead luggage compartments, partition walls and fixed wall, ceiling and floor panels. As it is co-cured with the sandwich panels, the film saves time in manufacture by eliminating post-cure finishing activities, while its halogen- free FST system improves operator safety during the manufacturing process.

During cure, which can take place at 120 or 180°C to match the panel system, AF3070 FST expands between 50 and 75 per cent, filling gaps and providing a strong, safe bond. The product's foaming characteristics also make it ideal for the filling of complex gaps in sandwich structures.

Details available from: 3M, Tel: +44 (0)161 237 6174.