Airbus has tested the manufacturing of a composite panel for its H145 PioneerLab helicopter using bio-fibers made without fossil fuel-based chemicals. The bio-fiber uses materials made with acrylonitrile, which is derived from non-fossil feedstocks such as wood and food waste, recycled cooking oils, and algae, or even from carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from the atmosphere.
Although it would take huge resources to ramp up the production of composites made using this process, the savings in CO2 emissions would be significant, according to the European aerospace group.
“Full life-cycle analysis undertaken by Airbus suggests that producing sustainable acrylonitrile (and other bio-based chemicals and intermediates) generates significantly less CO2 than the crude oil alternative,” the aircraft manufacturer said. “However, their industrialization is in its infancy. Scaling up to the extent where corresponding CO2 reductions move the dial will require regulatory commitment and massive capital investment.”
The H145 nose panel is nonstructural and was flight-tested in May. The small size of the panel made it easier to manufacture, and its nonstructural nature made it a safe part of testing the new material.
“For now,” Airbus said, “the PioneerLab nose panel remains a proof of concept. The challenge for Airbus and other manufacturers is to work with supply chains to make bio-fiber production economically viable and to ensure it can be ramped up cost-effectively to meet accelerating aircraft production.”