Aircraft Plastic, Fiberglass Trim and Fairings Parts

New, high-tech plastics—such as carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP)—are helping make passenger aircraft lighter, more durable, and more fuel-efficient. CFRP are made of one or more plastics combined with fibers made from carbon, resulting in lightweight, extremely strong materials.

Aircraft rely heavily on composites such as CFRP. Boeing states that 50 percent of the primary structure of the 787 is made with composites (up from about 12 percent in most aircraft) in place of traditional materials such as aluminum sheeting. These composites help reduce the weight of the aircraft and contribute to a 20 percent reduction in fuel consumption. Better fuel efficiency also translates into lower carbon and other emissions during the lifetime of the aircraft. Planes can fly longer without refueling, potentially resulting in longer non-stop flights.

Fiberglass is making its way into the aviation industry as fiberglass plane bodies weigh less than traditional aluminum planes. This holds true for the internal components of planes too. Fiberglass is now used to reduce the weight of everything from airplane chairs to lavatories to overhead bins; reduced weight makes any of these items safer in the event of a crash or hard landing. Because fiberglass can be molded, construction of these components also requires fewer pieces.