Solvay Specialty Polymers' KetaSpire® PEEK Products are Qualified at COMAC


Chinese Manufacturer Qualifies High-Performance Polymers for Next-Generation Aircraft



SEATTLE, Wash. – Five of Solvay Specialty Polymers' KetaSpire® polyetheretherketone (PEEK) grades have earned qualification at the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), a leading Chinese aircraft manufacturer, for use on its next-generation aircraft. These five materials are the first KetaSpire® PEEK grades to be qualified at Shanghai-based COMAC, opening up a broad range of new commercial opportunities for Solvay in the high-growth Chinese market. Solvay made the announcement at the Aircraft Interiors Expo (AIE) Americas exhibition (Booth 313), October 14-16 in Seattle, Washington.



The demand for commercial aircraft is growing at a torrid pace in China and manufacturers continue to make increasing use of high-performance thermoplastics, according to Armin Klesing, Business Development Manager, Aerospace and Composites, for Solvay Specialty Polymers. "We're excited about earning qualification at COMAC and delivering the lightweight material options that optimize design, improve performance, and reduce cost," said Klesing. "As an industry-leading supplier of ultra-high performance polymers, we look forward to working with COMAC and their supply chain to collaboratively develop new solutions for the most demanding of applications."



The five materials which have been added to COMAC's qualified product list (QPL) are KetaSpire® KT-880 NT neat resin, KetaSpire® KT-820 NT neat resin, KetaSpire® KT-880 GF30 (30% glass fiber filled), KetaSpire® KT-880 CF30 (30% carbon fiber filled), and KetaSpire KT-820 GF30 (30% glass fiber filled). KetaSpire® KT-820 is a low melt flow resin while KetaSpire® KT-880 is a high flow resin. The materials will be used in the new COMAC C919, a family of 158- to 174-seat narrow-body aircraft. The C919 will be the largest commercial airliner designed and built in China. The KetaSpire® PEEK grades are also expected to be used in the COMAC ARJ21 Xiangfeng, a twin-engine regional aircraft.



The qualification further solidifies Solvay's commitment to the global aerospace industry where it occupies a strong position as a leading material supplier of a broad range of strong, lightweight, high-performance products used to improve fuel economy, eliminate corrosion, and reduce overall cost. Solvay expects its collaboration with COMAC to lead to new material qualifications in the future, according to Klesing. Solvay's Torlon® polyamide-imide (PAI) is also expected to be evaluated for use in future COMAC aircraft.



KetaSpire® PEEK is one of the industry's most chemically resistant plastics and offers excellent strength and stiffness, superior fatigue resistance, low moisture absorption, and a continuous-use temperature up to 240°C (464°F). Glass fiber-reinforced and carbon fiber-reinforced grades provide a wide range of performance options for demanding applications. These injection moldable materials are inherently flame retardant, exhibiting excellent fire, smoke, and toxicity (FST) performance and withstand the most aggressive aerospace fluids. They are targeted for a range of aerospace applications including electrical and mechanical attachments, covering films for thermal acoustic insulation blankets, electrical connectors, and a variety of aerospace hardware that is typically produced in metal or standard engineering plastics such as nylon.



About Solvay Specialty Polymers

Solvay Specialty Polymers manufactures over 1500 products across 35 brands of high-performance polymers – fluoropolymers, fluoroelastomers, fluorinated fluids, semi-aromatic polyamides, sulfone polymers, aromatic ultra polymers, high-barrier polymers and cross-linked high-performance compounds – for use in Aerospace, Alternative Energy, Automotive, Healthcare, Membranes, Oil Gas, Packaging, Plumbing, Semiconductors, Wire and Cable, and other industries. Learn more at www.SolvaySpecialtyPolymers.com.



Solvay (www.solvay.com) is an international chemical Group committed to sustainable development with a clear focus on innovation and operational excellence. It is realizing over 90% of its sales in markets where it is among the top 3 global leaders. Solvay offers a broad range of products that contribute to improving quality of life and the performance of its customers in markets such as consumer goods, construction, automotive, energy, water and environment, and electronics. The Group is headquartered in Brussels and its companies, which employ about 29,400 people in 56 countries, generated EUR 9.9 billion in net sales in 2013 (pro forma). Solvay SA is listed as SOLB on NYSE Euronext (www.euronext.com) in Brussels and Paris. Bloomberg (www.bloomberg.com) = SOLB:BB and Reuters (www.reuters.com) = SOLB.BR.



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