Product category:
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News Release from: 3M Marine, Aerospace and Specialty Vehicles | Subject: AF3070 FST
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 16 September 2005
Adhesive film fills aerospace sandwich
panels
Global innovations company 3M has launched the first adhesive film for aerospace sandwich panels that fulfils stand-alone FST regulations.
Global innovations company 3M has launched the first adhesive film for aerospace sandwich panels that fulfils stand-alone FST regulations 3M AF3070 FST can be used to finish edges, splice cores and fill gaps in honeycomb sandwich panels
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 16 Sep 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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The film is cocured with the panels to deliver a high quality edge finish and helps to ensure compliance with FST requirements.
Lightweight and stiff, sandwich panels are a vital element of many modern aircraft interior designs, but joining and finishing such panels can be a costly and time consuming process.
The process is made more difficult by the need to pass stringent fire, smoke and toxic gas emission (FST) regulations, which greatly limits the number of acceptable adhesives and joining materials.
3M AF3070 FST is a double-sided, foaming film with an advanced epoxy adhesive.
It includes its own in-built halogen-free FST system that allows it meet FST requirements according to both the Airbus ABD 0031 directive and the FAR 25.853 standard.
"This is the first time that interior manufacturers have been able to obtain both foaming characteristics and FST properties in the same product", says John Cobb, Transportation Manager for 3M UK and Ireland.
"Against a background of increasing cost pressures, rising quality demands and ever-tightening safety regulations, this product is going to solve a lot of pressing problems of aircraft interior manufacturers".
Typical applications for AF3070 FST include overhead luggage compartments, partition walls and fixed wall, ceiling and floor panels.
As it is cocured with the sandwich panels, the film saves time in manufacture by eliminating post-cure finishing activities, while its halogen-free FST system improves operator safety during the manufacturing process.
During cure, which can take place at 120 or 180C to match the panel system, AF3070 FST expands between 50 and 75%, filling gaps and providing a strong, safe bond.
The product's foaming characteristics also make it ideal for the filling of complex gaps in sandwich structures.
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