Hexcel’s HexPEKK EM Offers Electromagnetic Shielding, Radar Absorption
Composite components are flight-ready after printing, omitting the need for costly and time-consuming secondary processing steps.
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HexPEKK EM composite components are flight-ready after printing, omitting the need for costly, time-consuming secondary processing steps.
Hexcel’s HexPEKK EM is an electrically conductive, high-performance, PEKK-based thermoplastic carbon fiber composite additive manufacturing (AM) material that integrates advanced electromagnetic (EM) performance within complex 3D-printed components for the commercial aerospace, defense and military sectors.
The company says that HexPEKK EM composite components are flight-ready after printing. Formulated specifically to meet the static electricity management, electromagnetic shielding and radiation absorption requirements of advanced aircraft applications, the PEKK carbon-fiber-blended material delivers unique electrical performance. Manufactured using the aerospace industry-qualified HexAM process, HexPEKK EM components are said to exhibit best-in-class environmental, operational temperature and chemical-resistant performance attainable in the aerospace industry.
By integrating this enhanced EM performance into AM components, HexPEKK EM parts do not require costly and time-consuming secondary processing steps, such as the application of conductive coating for the management of electromagnetic interference or radiation absorption. Target applications for HexPEKK EM cover a broad range of products, including exterior surfaces, leading edges, air inlets, electronic enclosures and cockpit structures for commercial airplanes, military aircraft, helicopters and UAV components.
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