Composites for Aerospace

Innovation for Zero Emission Aircraft

Composites will unlock the design potential for future, cleaner aircraft and propulsion systems.  Lightweight, tough and strong, advanced composites are enabling a decarbonised commercial fleet and opening up new, exciting opportunities in urban air mobility. At the National Composites Centre, our team of specialist engineers and network of world-leading industrial partners will help you exploit the full potential of composites.

 

 

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM)

Composites are one of the game-changing technologies helping the urban air mobility market take-off. To meet the lightweight targets of this next generation AAM and eVTOL vehicles, composites are fundamental to the design of the aerostructure and propulsion system. Opening up new opportunities for the UK's composites industry in a market predicted to be worth $1.5Tr by 2040.

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Hydrogen propulsion systems

Composites are by far the best engineering solution for hydrogen storage systems. To achieve the range required on an aircraft, hydrogen fuel will have to be stored in a liquid form at cryogenic temperatures, around -200°C to deliver the maximum energy density. At the NCC, we’re specifying, designing and manufacturing cryogenic hydrogen storage vessels that will transform the potential for future cleaner propulsion systems.

Image: Lentus Composites

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Composites industrialisation

Manufacturability is at the heart of what we do. Our design and manufacturing teams work together to ensure data is embedded in the process from day one, saving time and effort and enabling us to take ideas from concept to reality quickly, using an array of tools and techniques. By optimising the design early-on and delivering full product life-cycle analysis, our customers have the results they need to commercialise and scale solutions.

Process innovation

The National Composites Centre is home to world-leading automated manufacturing technologies designed and developed by our team of engineers which enable High Rate, Complex Geometry and Large Scale manufacturing capabilities offering aerospace customers a state-of-the-art manufacturing testbed to trial new process innovations.

Collaborative R&D

The NCC has established a broad membership including end-users, OEMs and materials, equipment and production suppliers. Our strong aerospace network helps us to connect companies and universities to collaborate on projects and we provide support with bid writing to access finance for large-scale collaborative R&D programmes.

News and Events

  • NCC, Bristol
    Read more about Extreme Composites 2024: Developing a sovereign supply chain

    Extreme Composites 2024: Developing a sovereign supply chain

    20 Nov 2024
    Extreme Composites, is a UK conference delivered by the National Composites Centre that will identify the future opportunity for emerging CMC technologies and current capability in the UK, targeted towards industry and the supply chain that are actively engaged in deploying and developing CMCs in the UK.
  • National Composites Centre, Bristol
    Read more about ATI Hub Aerospace Innovation Showcase: Cryogenic Hydrogen Fuel Systems

    ATI Hub Aerospace Innovation Showcase: Cryogenic Hydrogen Fuel Systems

    26 Nov 2024
    Delivered by the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) and High Value Manufacturing Catapult, hosted at the NCC in Bristol, the Innovation Showcase is a one-day workshop that aims to convene aerospace, hydrogen and cryogenics industry leaders to discuss requirements, market opportunities and possible collaborations for on-aircraft hydrogen fuel systems and components. Registration is now open.

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