Aviation thermoplastics giant, Sekisui SPI, has launched two cabin products designed to help airlines reduce weight and improve efficiency, which also have specifications that exceed aviation safety requirements.
The two launches – named Kydex 6523HI and 6565HI – are both high-impact products, designed to absorb more impact energy prior to failure, aided by featuring a ductile failure mode rather than the brittle failure mode more common on PVC/PMMA materials. This improved ductile failure characteristic increases the likelihood that thermoformed parts made with the new Kydex materials will pass HIC testing when used on demanding geometries in the passenger head injury criterion (HIC) zone and meet FAR 25.853 (a) and (d) requirements.
About the materials
Kydex 6523HI is a high-impact material with integral pearlescent finish. The material was specifically engineered to improve passenger safety when used in components requiring the HIC test. KYDEX 6523HI expands the company’s portfolio of high-impact materials, complementing Kydex 6565HI.
“The ability to leverage our experience across the supply chain has led to some innovative concepts that have changed the way the industry thinks about aircraft interior design,” said Ben Smalley, aviation market business manager at Sekisui SPI. “It’s exciting to be involved in the process from the very beginning and see how it evolves to the final design.”