Domestic current status of polymer-matrix composite for aero-engines and application

Performance enhancement of advanced aero-engines sets a higher requirement for their overall structural lightweighting. Polymer-matrix composite (PMC) are one of the key materials to achieve aeroengine lightweighting. In recent years, focusing on the aero-engine cold-section parts, AECC Beijing Institute of Aeronautical Materials (BIAM) has systematically developed PMCs of high-toughness epoxy, high-temperature and high-toughness bismaleimide, high-temperature polyimide and high-toughness thermoplastic resins. This article introduces the foreign profile of PMCs for aero-engines and the demands of aeroengines for PMCs. Then, taking BIAM as the representative, domestic current status of PMCs for aero-engines and application are introduced. PMC development trend and emphasis for aero-engines are proposed. Overall, domestic PMC for aero-engines have made breakthrough in such aspects as high-temperature resistance, impact resistance, structure/function integration and integral fabrication technology, and have achieved batch application in such parts as fan blades, containment casings and outer ducts. For the needs of future aero-engines, PMC would focus more and more on the directions including thermal resistance enhancement, toughness improvement, structure integration, processing automation and intelligentization, full-life cost minimization.