The aviation sector is under pressure to operate faster, more efficiently and, above all, more sustainably. Aircraft are increasingly made of lightweight composite materials, which contribute to lower fuel consumption. But these same materials are vulnerable to damage, for example from hail, collisions on the ground or rough baggage handling. Repairs are often time-consuming, expensive and lead to unnecessary waste of parts. This is precisely where there is room for improvement.
Within the European BiDebA project, technology company GMI Aero is working on a solution that cleverly responds to this challenge. The method can be compared to sticking on a plaster: fast, effective and without permanent damage. By combining biobased adhesives with heating technology, damaged parts of an aircraft can be efficiently repaired without having to replace parts. In addition, the adhesives are made from renewable raw materials and are easy to remove, which makes reuse possible.
Less downtime, less loss
Every day that an aircraft is grounded results in financial losses. With GMI Aero's technology, minor damage to composite parts can be repaired within an hour. This prevents unnecessary downtime and reduces costs for airlines. It also requires fewer specialized mechanics, which contributes to lower operational costs.
The technology behind the plaster
The core of the innovation is the Quick Composite Repair (QCR) heating blanket. This blanket makes it possible to apply heat locally to the damaged area without disassembly and without using dangerous equipment. The repair is as simple as applying a plaster: fast, temporary if necessary, and easy to remove if necessary.
Soluble bioadhesives
Unique to this approach are the bio-adhesives used. They are strong enough to repair damage, but can be released on command. As a result, no material needs to be cut away or replaced in the event of subsequent damage or inspection. This prevents waste and enables the reuse of components. Because the adhesives are also based on biological raw materials, this reduces the ecological footprint of maintenance processes.
About BiDebA
BiDebA (BioBased Debondable Adhesives) is an Interreg project in Northwestern Europe. It focuses on the development of biobased adhesives that can be released in a controlled manner. The aim is to make maintenance, repair and reuse easier in sectors such as aviation, automotive and electronics.
Source: BiDebA en engineersonline.nl
