Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
(OP)
Hi,
Does anybody know thin and light but stiff materials that could be used for wing material for the development of insect-like micro aerial vehihicles.
The price is not very important, however it is prefered that international suppliers can ship it (to Europe).
Any suggestions are very welcome. I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you
Does anybody know thin and light but stiff materials that could be used for wing material for the development of insect-like micro aerial vehihicles.
The price is not very important, however it is prefered that international suppliers can ship it (to Europe).
Any suggestions are very welcome. I hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you





RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
Cytec K-1100 pitch-based carbon fiber. Specific E along fiber = 45 million meters.
Toray M70J PAN-based carbon fiber. Specific E along fiber = 36 million meters.
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
If you managed a 70% fiber volume fraction polymer composite with M70J for an isotropic laminate you'd have roughly specific E = 8 million meters.
For a non-quasi-isotropic layup which might be reasonable for a wing (say 60/30/10 percentages in 0, 45 and 90 degree directions) you might manage about 15 million meters along the 0 degree axis.
I guess you can also have sapphire (AL2O3) specific E = 11 million meters (roughly isotropic).
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
Do you know or have experience with international suppliers with quick shipment of thin sheets of carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRP of 0.5 to 0.1 milimeter sheets in very small quantities, because its for making a small prototype).
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
Again recalling it was this approach that gave the highest stiffness product in the thinnest sheets.
Still recalling I believe that Kapton had the highest stiffness of any of the thin film materials as received.
I would look at NASA as they have done a lot of work in the area of rigidizing thin films for space use.
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
I think unclesyd's more non-conventional suggestions have merit.
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
RE: Ultra light/thin yet stiff material
Al-Li?