At Duvelco, we are proud to partner with industry leaders to deliver advanced materials for critical applications. Our lead offering, Ducoya® G series, is a “new to the world” high-performance material that will enhance aerospace engineering for years to come.
Designed to perform under extreme conditions, Ducoya opens new doors for lightweight, increased thermal stability, and high-strength component designs with or without impressive tribological characteristics. This combination of attributes can improve both engine performance and maintenance intervals.
What would it take for you to explore a new material? Potentially changing from a proven but mature solution to higher performance from an emerging leader?
Why Choose Ducoya® for Aerospace Applications?
- Exceptional Thermal Resistance: Aerospace engines operate in extreme environments where temperatures can soar from a high altitude minus 70°C to hundreds of degrees Celsius. Ducoya offers exceptional thermal oxidative stability, retaining its mechanical integrity at high temperatures typical in aerospace engines at full power climb or in heat soak. Ducoya maintains its mechanical integrity and performance even at temperatures up to 370°C (700°F) in a compressed air environment, ensuring it remains reliable in operation and longevity under extended continuous thermal stress. Further design is simplified as the Ducoya G series does not exhibit a glass transition before rapid decomposition at around 800°C.
- Outstanding Tribological Performance: With low friction coefficients and superior wear resistance, Ducoya is ideal for components such as bushings, seals, and thrust washers. Low wear is critical to keeping the engine functioning efficiently on the wing and the plane in the air. Reducing friction allows the downsizing of actuation systems from unison rings to actuation of flight control surfaces. These properties of low wear and low friction are critical in high sliding speed, high-load applications, which can otherwise lead to excessive wear, prevent extension of maintenance intervals or restrict the maximum number of take-off and landing cycles. Reduced Friction can allow meaningful reductions in system weight and increased passenger revenue miles.
- High Strength and Lighter in Weight: Weight reduction is a constant goal in aerospace engineering to improve fuel efficiency, load-carrying ability, and performance. For the engine manufacturers, using lighter materials means reduced wear and tear, lower fuel consumption, and more efficient aircraft operations. Ducoya provides an ideal solution by combining a lightweight profile with exceptional strength, making it a superior alternative to current materials.
- Creep, fatigue, and vibration resistant. Commercial and military aircraft have long service lives, and any embedded performance is lost if a component fails due to any of the (typically) non-linear degradation mechanisms listed (Creep, fatigue and vibration). It is reassuring to know that Ducoya resists creep, even in high load, high temperature conditions. Direct formed moulded Ducoya® parts can outperform traditional isostatically moulded and machined components.
- Electrical Insulation Properties: As advanced aerospace systems increasingly rely on sophisticated electronics, Ducoya’s electrical insulation properties make it an excellent choice for components requiring thermal and electrical insulation as well as stability in high temperature and/or high electrical load conditions. Future aircraft, from e-VTOL to commercial airliners, may increasingly rely on electrical energy as part of “power for flight”.
- Does the future of flight include hydrogen? Maybe it does. Ducoya is compatible with both liquid (20K, -253°C) and high-pressure gaseous hydrogen. Ducoya’s low and stable modulus even at -253°C enables effective sealing for isolation and flow control of hydrogen in an aircraft either directly to an appropriate Brayton cycle gas turbine or a Solid oxide or PEM fuel cell.
- Chemical compatibility: Ducoya’s sealing and flow control attributes also extend to traditional fuels, lubricants, and hydraulic fluids, as well as being resistant to these fluids and routine exposure to liquids such as deicing and cleaning fluids. Ducoya is also compatible with a huge variety of modern low global warming potential, low ozone depletion refrigerants. One can surmise that Ducoya has an excellent range of chemical compatibility for aerospace applications, even at very high and very low temperatures.
- PFAS not deliberately added to Ducoya. If you are concerned about possible PFAS regulation, this is effectively removed by selecting Ducoya as your solution. While the full supply chain is still under investigation, indications to date are that the deliberate addition of PFAS is absent in its entirety
- High strength: Ducoya has much improved mechanical properties vs. traditional materials, which, coupled with its tribology and creep resistance, can make Ducoya an excellent choice for power transmission components such as spline couplings. This allows the transmission of greater torques or the design and use of smaller components, saving package space and weight.
Ducoya represents a chance to test and integrate innovative solutions that push the boundaries of aerospace performance.
Key Applications of Ducoya in Aerospace Engines
1. Sealing Rings
Seal rings made with Ducoya can be engineered to deliver precise and low leakage in both static and dynamic sealing applications. Ducoya also delivers reliability in extreme operating conditions of temperature and pressure-velocity conditions. As well as sealing liquids such as fuel and lubricants, Ducoya is excellent at sealing gases, including compressed air and hydrogen. Reducing losses of air from the engine compressor improves the compression ratio, increasing engine efficiency and leading to a lower cost per passenger mile.
2. Thrust Washers
Thrust washers made from Ducoya GO21 also offer low wear and low friction combined with high Pressure-velocity (PV) capability. High compressive strength and elongation help dampen vibrations.
3. Engine Shaft Bumpers
Called upon in extreme circumstances, bumpers are present to prevent excessive shaft deflections and ensure the isolation of any concentric shafts. The ability to endure very considerable loads and tribological conditions without failure helps ensure the safe operation of modern engines. This is not to say Ducoya would not suffer wear in the case of a hard contact at high speed, however, Ducoya can erode only very gradually, permitting restoration of normal operating with a healthy safety margin.
4. Bushes
Bushes, such as high-temperature engine bushes and high ‘instantaneous load’ undercarriage bushes, as well as other applications, must endure high loads, extreme temperatures, and a range of motion conditions. Oscillating in the case of variable vane bushes, reciprocating in the case of hydraulic actuation and shaft guidance, as well as continuous rotation in some electric motors. Occasional motion in the case of undercarriage is an interesting example. Ducoya combines high strength with exceptional wear resistance while delivering a low friction, corrosion-resistant, shock capable solution over a very wide temperature range.
Traditional polyimides have proven performance in aerospace, Ducoya moves the game to the next level.
Ducoya Engine Solutions
Your Partner in Innovation
Duvelco is dedicated to empowering the aerospace sector with cutting-edge material solutions across all continents. We offer comprehensive support to our clients, including:
- Material Selection Guidance: Our team will help identify the most suitable Ducoya grade and configurations tailored to your specific applications.
- Technical Consultation: We provide in-depth technical insights to optimize the design and performance of your components.
- Supply Chain Reliability: With a robust distribution network, we ensure the timely and seamless delivery of materials to meet your production timelines.
Let’s Redefine Aerospace Together
At Duvelco, we believe in pushing the boundaries of innovation. The Ducoya G series offers unmatched capabilities in material science. It can open up limitless possibilities for the aerospace industry, driving advancements in efficiency, reliability, and sustainability.
How do we define and expand the limits of polyimides? Could Ducoya lead the next era of advanced aerospace materials? Let’s discuss the future of materials science in aerospace.
