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Future Aircraft Wings May Be Constructed From Steel Foam

Nov 3, 2019

This post is also available in: עברית (Hebrew)

Modern airplane wings are built from a specific type of aluminum alloy that allows the wing to be light and strong. However, now researchers from North Carolina State University have been investigating a new material that may be a better fit for airplane wings.

The material being investigated is a combination of steel composite metal foam (CMF) and epoxy resin. The hybrid material, also known as infused CMF, weighs about the same as aluminum but is also much tougher. The material also features several characteristics which make it a better fit from a flight performance point of view.

The steel CMF is a sturdy material. It can withstand bullets and temperatures up to 800 degrees celsius. It even managed to withstand an explosive incendiary device placed only 18 inches away. The material provides as much protection as steel armor but at a fraction of the weight.

Popularmechanics.com reports that the researchers tested their material against aircraft aluminum in three separate categories. The first being contact angle, which determines how water and air particles stream off the material. This tests how the wing will tolerate inclement weather. Tests show that the infused CMF is better than the current aluminum alloy used today.

The second test checked how insects stick to the material. When flying, it is inevitable that insects will crash into the aircraft. That is why it is important to test if the insects stick to the wings or stream off. Testing shows that the new material outperformed standard wings.

The final test checked how the material erodes relatively to standard airplane wings. The researchers blasted the material to see how it handles erosion. They found out that the infused CMF held its shape better than the traditional wing.

The researchers have noted that their results suggest that infused CMF may be a valuable replacement towards aluminum in aircraft wings. Infused CMF offers better performance at the same weight.