Integrating Heated Structures Within Advanced Composites
High strength, reduced weight and superior corrosion-resistance
Engine Air Inlets
Fairings
Main Rotor Blades
Tail Rotor Blades
Spinner Cones
Leading Edges
Engineering Critical Ice-Protection Solutions
Electro-Thermal Composites Built for Flight Safety
Design
Our electrical heaters are designed to conform to simple and complex contours when embedded within composite structures, providing a seamless design that does not interfere with exterior surfaces or critical airflow areas, such as engine inlets and ducting
Our current portfolio includes helicopter main and tail rotor blades, spinner cones and fairings and engine air inlets
Element types—including etched foil, jigged, or knit wires—are selected based on customer requirements. Variable surface watt density is optimized to efficiently utilize the available aircraft power source
Sensors are strategically placed to ensure adequate surface heating and prevent overheating of the elements or substructure
A collaborative effort among manufacturing, product, quality, and industrial engineers develops a process flow that optimizes output while minimizing scrap and non-conforming parts
The manufacturing and integration of electrical elements are performed in a clean room environment to prevent the introduction of FOD into the parts
Qualification may involve computer simulations like LEWICE, testing in icing tunnels and/or on aircraft
Production testing includes comprehensive electrical assessments such as resistance, megger, hi-pot tests, and full power heat load evaluations with infrared monitoring to ensure performance and safety
