Honeycomb Core Material Selector Guide

This document provides a comparative overview of various honeycomb core materials, focusing on their key properties and suitability for different applications.

1. Material Types and Density Ranges

• Aramid Fiber Honeycomb: Density range 1.4-5.2 pcf
• Thermoplastic Honeycomb: Density range 1.0-8.1 pcf
• Other materials include Nomex, Kevlar, Polycarbonate, Polypropylene, and Stainless Steel honeycombs with densities ranging from 1.0 to 9.0 pcf.

2. Service Temperature Limits

• Most honeycomb materials have a service temperature limit of 350°F, except some thermoplastics rated at 200°F.

3. Performance Characteristics

The guide uses a qualitative scale to rate the following properties for each material:

• Moisture Resistance: Varies from very low to very high; stainless steel shows very high resistance.
• Chemical Resistance: Ranges from low to very high; metals and some thermoplastics perform better.
• Strength and Stiffness: Generally high for metallic and aramid honeycombs.
• Smoke & Fire Resistance: Rated from low to very high; important for aerospace and military applications.
• Air/Fluid Flow Medium Compatibility: Indicates suitability for fluid flow applications.
• Machinability: Most materials are machinable to varying degrees.
• Thermal Conductivity: Metals have higher conductivity; polymers lower.
• Radar Transparency and RFI Shielding: Some materials offer radar transparency and radio frequency interference shielding, critical for defense and aerospace.
• Energy Absorbing and Formability: Important for impact resistance and manufacturing processes.

4. Material Codes and Applications

• Commercial and military grades are identified, e.g., PCGA-3000 Series (commercial), PAMG-5052 and PAMG-5056 (military).
• Materials like Nomex and Kevlar are noted for aerospace use.

5. Contact and Certification Information

Plascore, Inc. is the manufacturer, with headquarters in the USA and Europe. The company holds certifications including AS/EN/JISQ 9100, ISO 9001:2008, and ISO 14001:2004, ensuring quality and environmental management compliance.

6. Important Notices and Legal Information

The document emphasizes that product information is provided as-is without warranties. Users must perform their own testing to confirm suitability. Intellectual property rights are retained by Plascore, and no infringement permissions are granted.

Summary Table Interpretation

The table uses symbols to indicate property levels: '+' for very high, '•' for high, '-' for low, and 'n/a' where not applicable. This allows quick comparison of materials based on critical parameters such as moisture and chemical resistance, strength, machinability, and specialized properties like radar transparency.

This guide is essential for engineers and designers selecting honeycomb core materials for aerospace, military, and commercial applications, balancing mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electromagnetic requirements.