Polyurethane Protects Arresting Wires and Pilots, Too

The CVN 78 Gerald Ford aircraft carrier is often seen as the most technologically advanced in the U.S. Navy’s fleet. And part of that technology includes new polyurethane-covered plates from Kastalon that help absorb the impact of arresting cables as they are dragged across the deck.

When a fighter jet lands on an aircraft carrier, it’s still traveling at up to 150 miles per hour — with 500 feet or less in which to stop. So, the plane has a special tailhook that grabs one of several arresting wires stretched across the deck in order to transfer the energy and slow the plane to a halt quickly.

The arresting wires take quite a beating as they repeatedly drag across the deck with enough speed to make sparks fly. Enter Kastalon’s polyurethane-covered plates. The plates help to absorb the initial impact as the wire hits to protect it from damage and failure, which in turn helps protect the fighter jet and its pilot.


Originally reported by http://incrediblepolyurethane.com

Miliary

Polyurethane covered plates absorb the force of the initial impact on flight deck

Kastalon’s polyurethane covered plates help absorb the initial impact of the cable assembly on the flight deck, of the new aircraft carrier, the CVN 78 Gerald Ford.

Kastalon is proud to be a Department of Defense (DOD) sub-contractor for the new aircraft carrier, the CVN 78 Gerald Ford. Not only is the Ford class aircraft carrier the most powerful ship in the world, it’s technology is the most advanced in the entire fleet. If you look at time frames 2:10 through 2:27, you will see 3 angled areas on the deck just after the arresting cable. These are polyurethane covered plates that absorb the initial impact of the cable assembly with the flight deck. To get an idea of the forces and nature of the impact at 2:22 you will see sparks from the cable dragged across the deck after the polyurethane absorbed the force of the initial impact. This is incredibly brutal to the arresting wire equipment. Without the protection provided by the pads the arresting wire would be compromised which could result in failure and the loss of the aircraft, perhaps the pilot as well.

During the ship’s Independent Steaming Exercises (ISE), USS Gerald R. Ford’s crew tested and evaluated the ship’s capabilities, including 83 aircraft launches and recoveries. For these flight operations, the new launch and recovery technologies, Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), were on display.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

We are very proud of the fact that Kastalon worked with Navel Engineering to develop the design and is the only manufacturer qualified to supply these pads. Kastalon’s parts and products are in nuclear submarines, mining, heavy equipment, material handling systems, steel and metals manufacturing and processing, converting, food, packaging, aircraft, and even on the space shuttle and space station. From deep sea to deep space, Kastalon manufactures the most innovative, highest quality polyurethane components for military, industrial and commercial equipment systems.


About ACIBC
The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC) represents businesses that supply parts, equipment and services for the construction and maintenance of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers. Established in 2004, ACIBC seeks to preserve the strength of the aircraft carrier force and promote the value of the aircraft carrier industrial base as a vital part of the nation’s overall defense structure.

Source: US Navy. Originally reported by ACIBC (The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition). Photo Credit: US Navy/Erik Hildebrandt
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Rubber Forming Pad History: Comparisons of Materials and Introduction of Gümmilast Polyurethane for Forming Pads and Fluid Cells

Short run forming of complex sheet metal shapes using rubber dies and pads is quick and highly effective.  This technique was first accomplished using the Guerin Process.  After the Second World War, the Wheelon process was developed as an improvement over the Guerin Process.  A Wheelon press is capable of manufacturing large, complex, short run parts with economic tooling. This type of hydraulically actuated bladder forming is widely used in the aerospace industry today.

When the Wheelon process was first employed, the forming press fluid cells and forming pads were made of Neoprene rubber.  The Neoprene formulations of the day were developed by rubber molders’ chemists.  Their formulas were proprietary and highly secretive.

The high grade formulation of Neoprene used was an excellent material for the function of forming pads and fluid cells.  It was tough, had very high extensibility, good cut resistance, excellent oil resistance and produced good detail with moderate pressures.

This was the standard material for Wheelon forming pads and fluid cells for many years.  However, as the U.S. industrial rubber goods industry matured, its productive capacity diminished.  The industry lost the capacity and knowledge required to make Neoprene pads and cells.  There are presently no suppliers of rubber Wheelon or Guerin cells or pads in North America.


Product shown in use in the Wheelon process, one used extensively in the aerospace and other industries.

Fortunately, there was capacity to produce these parts from polyurethane.  Polyurethane is a synthetic elastomer that is far stronger than Neoprene.  Polyurethane has greater cut resistance, more abrasion resistance, greater tensile strength and has suitably high elongation for effective use in the Wheelon process.

Polyurethane is also a more environmentally stable material than the original Neoprene.  Most often, when installing forming pads and upon starting forming operations, the Neoprene would be “dried out”.  This would lead to shrinkage of the pad and increased stiffness.  In order to install the pad and/or start the operation, it would be necessary to heat the Neoprene to restore it to its original softness and resilience.  Polyurethane is far more consistent, retaining its size, shape and maintaining its softness and resilience.  This eliminates the need for heat “rejuvenation”.

However, in spite of the superiority of the physical properties of polyurethane over the previously used Neoprene, there is a drawback to polyurethane.  Due to its increased strength and toughness, far greater pressures must be employed to achieve acceptable part definition and this results in greater strain on the press, its components and some reduction in forming definition.

Some of the difficulties encountered with the use of commercial and even Kastalon KAS43210AE forming pads and cells are:

  • Increased wear and maintenance of the press due to the high degree of loading
  • Decreased press life
  • Reduction in size capacity
  • Reduced part definition requiring increased handwork
  • Increased set-up time, due to the need for more accurate filler/intensifier pad placement
  • The risk of damage to the forming pad if the press filler/intensifier pads are not properly used
  • Increased tendency for forming pad extrusion due to higher pressures
  • Increased risk of catastrophic failures
  • The inability to make field repairs

The challenge to industry has been to create a material that has polyurethane’s toughness and the extensibility of the lost Neoprene material.

Our initial discoveries led us to improve the traditional polyurethane formulations to increase extensibility, reduce working pressure and improve cut and tear strength in the “mid extension” ranges where these pads operate.  However, this was only a compromise and a temporary solution to producing a forming pad with superior performance.

After years of continuing research, a hybrid polyurethane compound, trademarked Gümmilast by Kastalon, has been developed.  The properties of Gümmilast are very similar to the original Neoprene in performance and exceed the toughness of traditional polyurethane.  A comparison of the original Neoprene, Gümmilast, Kastalon KAS43210AE and commercial polyurethane is presented in the following table.

Physical Properties: Traditional Neoprene vs. Polyurethane
Neoprene Gümmilast KAS021909A Kastalon KAS43210AE Commercial PUR
Hardness, Shore A Tensile, psi 55-602,002 psi 602850 704153 704660
Elongation 773 % 774 694 630
5% modulus 92 psi 133 201 221
50% 119 psi 184 260 282
100% 157 psi 229 340 360
200% 277 psi 262 434 475
300% 472 psi 337 522 670
400% 741 psi 471 738 985
Split tear 228 psi 191 181 185
Dynamic modulus 289 372 733 836

The similarity between Gümmilast and the original Neoprene is apparent.  In the operating range extension (250-400%), previously available polyurethanes create far higher internal stresses.  The rapid increase of these stresses in this operational strain range leads to need for higher pressure and less definition.  This makes tool design and the use of intensifier pads highly critical.

When using Gümmilast, the reduction in operating pressure will yield greater press life, while offering greater part definition.

Life testing of Gümmilast pads and cells is ongoing.  To date, Kastalon anticipates 3-6 times the life of Improved Kastalon Polyurethane and an even greater life over commercial polyurethane.

In conclusion, Kastalon Gümmilast will provide the Wheelon Process user with a material that offers similar process ease, forming definition and reparability as experienced with the original rubber and providing significantly improved life over commercial polyurethane.  Gümmilast is also available for hydroforming bladders, throw pads and Guerin Process pads.

Kastalon Gümmilast products are available from your press parts provider or from Kastalon, Inc.