Quickstep in nanotechnology R&D program

Quickstep Holdings Limited is participating in a US$10 million European research project to investigate the use of nanotechnology to improve the material properties of advanced composites used in global transportation industries.

The project is being undertaken by Quickstep’s German subsidiary, Quickstep GmbH whose share of the project is approximately US$445,000.

The nanotube technology at the heart of this research program involves the introduction of tiny ‘nano sized’ carbon tubes into the host composite resins.

It is believed this could lead to improved properties including enhanced electrical conductivity and greatly increasing component strength.

Electrical conductivity is a key challenge in aerospace manufacturing because aircraft need protection against electromagnetic interference and lightning strikes.

Due to the relatively low conductivity of traditional carbon fibre materials, existing manufacturing solutions require that composite aerospace parts be covered with a metallic ‘mesh’ that significantly adds to the overall weight of the aircraft structure (around 900kg for a modern Airbus or Boeing aircraft) without making any structural contribution.

Carbon nanotubes have been found to dramatically increase the electrical conductivity of composite materials, meaning that this metallic mesh could be significantly thinned or removed altogether – leading to a reduction in an aircraft’s weight and an increase in its fuel efficiency.

The research project is evaluating the manufacture of composite materials infused with carbon nanotubes, with a sole focus on “out-of-autoclave” composite manufacturing technologies – such as the Quickstep Process – to eliminate the negative aspects of autoclave processing.

The benefits of out-of-autoclave processing techniques can include reduced capital investment, reduced cure cycle time and lower running costs.

The research project is being undertaken by an alliance of 16 different organisations.

In addition to Quickstep, participants include EADS; SLCA – a subsidiary of the SAFRAN Group which undertakes design and manufacture of composite parts for airliners, regional aircraft, business jets and helicopters; Alstom - one of the world’s largest providers of rolling stock and rail transport infrastructure; the University of Cambridge, the University of London and the Catholic University of Leuven; and Coexpair, which will act as the project manager.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2013.