Hybrid Materials
In aircraft construction, metals are increasingly being replaced by new materials. The motive behind this is to combine the diverse advantages provided by the physical properties of different materials and to save weight and costs.
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For example, EADS Military Air Systems in Augsburg is using hybrid construction to manufacture wing components and flap tracks for the Airbus A380, i.e. the components are produced from widely differing materials such as aluminium, titanium and composites. The optimum combination of materials is chosen early, at the design stage, and always with a view to reducing cost and weight. The production of such hybrid components requires not only special cutting and drilling technologies, but also new assembly techniques.
