Corning Inc. has officially launched its innovative MACOR® machinable glass ceramic material in Asian markets for the aerospace industry.
THIS comes at a time when the global aerospace manufacturing demand for low-density composite material structures remains strong and continues to grow. According to research, in 2015, aerostructure composite volumes are expected to reach 30 million pounds (13.6 metric tons), up from 21.3 million pounds in 2013. MACOR is a high-performance, low-density material commonly used in aerospace applications.
“Milestone projects for the industry are using technical composite materials and we believe the wider market will follow the same trend. Manufacturers can make the switch to MACOR and still use conventional metalworking tools in their production processes,” explained Franck de Lorgeril, global marketing and sales manager, Industrial Products at Corning. “We know the industry drivers are ensuring that materials can operate at peak temperatures with low thermal capabilities and this is incredibly important for manufacturers as they cannot afford to compromise reliability. MACOR can offer this with its impressive tolerance levels.”
MACOR is a mica glass ceramic material with a unique combination of properties. It is:
*Easily machinable using conventional metalworking tools, with no post-firing required
*A versatile ceramic material with technical strength and insulation properties exceeding high-performance plastics
*Tolerant (up to 0.0005 inches; it can be machined to a surface finish of less than 20 micro-inches, and polished to a smoothness of 0.5 micro-inches AA)
*Stable in high temperatures (continuous at 800° Celsius, up to a peak of 1000° Celsius) with zero porosity and outgassing
*An electrical insulator that is radiation resistant and has low thermal conductivity
For aerospace manufacturers, the fact that MACOR remains stable at high temperatures and extreme pressure means that it can be machined into highly complex components for both aircraft and spacecraft. As a versatile material that can perform in harsh operating environments and can be joined with a wide range of materials, MACOR allows for shorter and faster production processes, enabling new products to get to market quicker.
Previously, MACOR played a key role in the United States’ Space Shuttle program. MACOR parts were used at all hinge points, windows, and doors on the reusable Space Shuttle Orbiter. Large pieces of MACOR have also been used in a NASA spaceborne gamma radiation detector.
MACOR has already proven ideal for use in a range of applications in industries including aerospace, electronics, medical, high vacuum, and laser. It is a trusted foundation and widely used across Europe and the United States.
Pychaya Suksrinuch
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