Teijin’s carbon fibre material Tenax Dry Reinforcements (DR) has qualified for Airbus A320neo wing spoilers using a Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) solution that joins Tenax Dry Reinforcements Non-Crimp Fabrics (DRNF) & Tenax Braided Fibres (DRBF) to form skins and stiffeners that maintains existing product interfaces allowing replacement of spoiler components.

The highly automated RTM solution is developed by Spirit AeroSystems, one of the world’s leading manufacturer of aircraft structural components.

Tenax DRNF and Tenax DRBF have been developed for resin infusion and resin transfer moulding processes which can offer higher productivity and component integration than conventional autoclave moulding. Tenax DRNF are created of bundled carbon fibre filaments being spread out in one direction in multiple layers with different directions, depending on the final component`s structural requirements. The fabrics have excellent fibre orientation which results in better mechanical properties than conventional woven fabric and reaches properties equivalent to aerospace grade thermosetting unidirectional prepreg. Tenax DRBF is applied within the spoiler component structure to act as cavity fillers, these materials have been qualified individually by Airbus specifically for this application.

The combination of the Tenax DRNF and Tenax DRBF achieve the Spirit AeroSystems criteria for aircraft component production such as effective process ability, productivity, and cost efficiency. A320neo spoiler components will be manufactured within a new high volume production facility in Spirit AeroSystems, Prestwick, Scotland.

As one strategic focus of its medium-term management plan for 2020-2022. Teijin is intensively accelerating its development of mid- to downstream applications for aircraft, such as cost-effective carbon fibres with higher-tenacity and higher-tensile modulus, intermediate materials including Tenax Dry Reinforcement carbon fibre materials, carbon fibre thermoplastic unidirectional pre-impregnated tape (Tenax TPUD), carbon fibre thermoplastic consolidated laminate (Tenax TPCL) and thermoset prepreg. Going forward, Teijin intends to further strengthen its carbon fibre and its intermediate material business as a leading solution provider for aircraft applications, targeting annual sales in this field in excess of $900 million by around 2030.

Teijin is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan's first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibres and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibres and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic healthcare; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions”, Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises more than 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide.