Collaborative Project Under the Aviation Research Program

Collaborative project under the LuFo VII-1 Aviation Research Program

Collaborative project under the LuFo VII-1 program of the Aviation
Research

Note on Funding Under LuFo VII-1

Supported by

AZ-INCA

In the collaborative project

Ageothermal networkZero Technologies – Innovative Nlow-pressure systems for CO₂-optimized Apropulsion systems.

Subproject Description

Development and validation of an inductively heatable erosion-resistant coating for composite materials.

Grant Code

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of LuFo VII-1 under grant number 20T2404F.

Information on the Objectives

The overall goal of the collaborative project is to develop a shape-variable stator, which will optimize kerosene consumption during the various phases of flight and thereby significantly reduce it.
The high-quality protective properties of the coating to be developed will significantly extend the service life of the stators.
In addition to significantly extending maintenance intervals and ensuring the proper functioning of the stators, the installation of inductively heatable particles and the resulting physical de-icing of the stators provides an environmentally friendly and health-conscious alternative to the de-icing agents currently in use.

Consortium Partners

The lead partner of the joint project is Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG.

Other Consortium Partners

DLR Institute of Lightweight Structures (DLR SY)
TU Dresden Institute for Lightweight Construction and Plastics Technology (TUD ILK)
Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM)
INVENT GmbH

Scope of the Collaborative Project

Brief Description of the Consortium

The AZ-INCA research project aims to upgrade the low-pressure system and introduce NextGen Ultra-Slimline nacelle technology for the next generation of the Pearl engine family, which is expected to unlock significant potential in terms of efficiency, component lifespan, operational safety, and reduced development time, while making a significant contribution to noise reduction. The NextGen Ultra-Slimline nacelle technology enables improved propulsion efficiency without compromising the aircraft’s aerodynamic drag; however, it is accompanied by an overall shorter low-pressure system, which leads to increased aerodynamic and aeromechanical coupling of the components. A holistic approach must be developed to predict component performance as part of the larger system rather than in isolation.

Brief Introduction to Your Subproject

The main focus of the work in this subproject, carried out in collaboration with our project partner IFAM, is the development of a coating material optimally tailored to the objectives of the joint project. In addition to being compatible with the composite materials for the shape-flexible stator blade systems that will emerge over the course of the project, requirements such as temperature stability, chemical resistance, flexibility, erosion and impact resistance, etc., must be met. The coating material to be developed is also to be equipped with inductively heatable particles that, when necessary, enable environmentally friendly de-icing.