In aerospace engineering, a “flyaway” application refers to any scenario where the vehicle is designed to take flight. The aerospace industry places stringent demands on materials used in fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and spacecraft, where passenger safety allows no margin for error, and materials must perform reliably under all conditions.
This standard applies even to materials that may be overlooked, such as tapes and silicone products. Flyaway materials are required to meet rigorous criteria, including the ability to withstand extreme temperatures, exhibit strong dielectric properties, maintain reliable adhesion, enable easy removability when needed, and, crucially, provide flame-retardant capabilities.
Saint-Gobain’s adhesive tapes and silicone materials are engineered to comply with numerous regulatory standards, including those set by the FAA and UL, as well as the specific requirements of OEMs, the military, NASA, and other manufacturers. Beyond its extensive portfolio of proven adhesive solutions, Saint-Gobain excels in product development and customization, ensuring that customers receive materials precisely configured to meet their specifications.
With a reputation for leadership in flame-retardant material solutions, Saint-Gobain supports common flyaway applications such as gasketing, insulation, sealing, wire harnessing, and cabin flooring. Our expertise in aerospace standards and adhesive technology helps engineers make informed decisions about these essential, yet often underappreciated, materials.
Flame-Retardant Tapes in Aerospace Applications
Aircraft Material Safety and Performance Requirements
Fire safety is crucial for maintaining the airworthiness of aircraft, with flame-retardant properties serving as a critical factor in ensuring passenger and crew protection. In the aerospace sector, materials used in “flyaway” applications—situations where the vehicle takes flight—must meet stringent safety and performance requirements for fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and spacecraft. Given the zero tolerance for defects or performance failures, the industry demands high standards across all components, including tapes and silicone materials, which are often underestimated in their importance.
For flyaway applications, materials must satisfy a range of challenging criteria, including resistance to extreme temperatures, high dielectric strength, reliable adhesion, easy removability, and, most importantly, flame retardancy. Saint-Gobain’s adhesive tapes and silicone products are designed to meet regulatory standards set by the FAA, UL, and specifications from OEMs such as Boeing and Airbus, as well as military and NASA requirements. These standards ensure compliance with overlapping safety guidelines, which can be complex to navigate.
Critical Need for Fire-Retardant Materials
Flame-retardant materials, which include chemical additives to slow or extinguish fire growth, are essential in preventing potential hazards in aircraft. Electrical wiring poses a significant fire risk due to the extensive network present in airplanes; a high dielectric strength flame-retardant tape can stop a minor electrical fault from escalating into a disaster. Additionally, any fire could produce smoke that can quickly overwhelm an aircraft’s interior, posing a severe threat to safety and potentially forcing emergency landings.
Regulatory Standards and Testing
Multiple industrial standards address fire retardancy for aerospace applications. UL evaluates materials like foams and tapes for factors such as ignition ease, flame spread, burning rate, fuel contribution, and intensity. Commercial aviation standards, primarily driven by Boeing and Airbus—who collectively hold a 95% market share—are complemented by FAA regulations and military specifications.
To ensure material compliance, Saint-Gobain uses the following key test standards:
1. ANSI/UL 94 (6th Ed., June 2020) – Tests for the flammability of plastic materials used in devices and appliances.
2. FAA Regulations (CFR Parts 25 and 26) – Including Advisory Circulars and Policy Statements, with specific requirements like 25.583 for compartment interiors.
3. OEM Specifications – Guidelines from Boeing and Airbus.
4. Military Specifications – For applications in defense and aerospace.
Saint-Gobain leads in flame-retardant material solutions for common aerospace uses such as gasketing, sealing, wire harnessing, and cabin flooring. By leveraging extensive expertise in industry standards and adhesive technology, Saint-Gobain helps engineers choose reliable, customized solutions tailored to meet exacting safety requirements.
### Aircraft Gasketing, Insulating, and Sealing
Saint-Gobain Norseal® Silicone Rubbers are engineered to meet critical aerospace standards and have a long track record in flyaway applications. Designed with flame retardancy, low outgassing, and low toxicity in mind, Norseal Silicone Rubber products are ideal for gasketing, thermal insulation, and sealing tasks across doors, instruments, electronics, and windows. They come in various configurations, offering different densities, including lightweight options—a key consideration in aviation where weight impacts fuel efficiency.
Available as foam, solid, reinforced-solid, or sponge materials, Norseal Silicones can also be supplied with pressure-sensitive adhesives, ensuring they are ready for immediate integration into manufacturing processes.
### Wire Harness Assemblies for Aircraft
Saint-Gobain CHR® Adhesive Tapes are extensively used in aerospace applications. With wide-body jets containing up to 170 miles of electrical wiring, cables are bundled and secured within conduits, raceways, or plenum spaces. These wire assemblies endure stress and abrasion from vibrations during taxiing, takeoff, flight, and landing, which can wear on the wire insulation.
CHR Tapes are engineered for wire harness requirements, providing splicing of insulation films and enhancing abrasion resistance where wires are fastened. They feature backing materials like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), PTFE-coated para-aramid fabrics, polyimide, and glass cloth, delivering high abrasion resistance, excellent dielectric strength, and temperature endurance. Additionally, they meet flame-retardant or flame-resistant requirements for aerospace applications.
When paired with specially formulated acrylic or silicone adhesives, CHR Tapes provide robust solutions for wire harness assemblies.
Aircraft Flooring
Saint-Gobain Biolink® Carpet Tapes are designed to meet the demands of aerospace OEMs, including Airbus and Boeing. These double-sided, dual-adhesive acrylic tapes offer high performance for securing aircraft carpets or non-textile flooring (NTF) while also serving as moisture barriers. Featuring adhesives that allow for clean removal, these tapes simplify carpet replacement, typically performed annually to maintain cabin comfort and cleanliness.
The dual-adhesive design ensures strong adhesion to the carpet on one side and reliable, residue-free removability from the composite floor on the other, making it suitable for areas subject to high foot traffic.
Partnering for Flyaway Success
Saint-Gobain collaborates with aerospace OEMs and suppliers to provide materials that meet demanding application requirements and comply with regulatory standards. Leveraging our team’s technical expertise and in-depth knowledge of aerospace specifications, we ensure our tape solutions are suitable for airworthiness.
Even routine tasks, such as replacing carpeting, can cause significant disruption without the right planning and materials. As carpet and NTF technologies evolve, customized adhesive solutions may be required to maintain the performance standards that OEMs depend on. Our team partners with customers to develop and deliver the material solutions they need.
Learn more about our tape technologies designed for aerospace applications or contact a technical specialist to discuss your requirements.
