Toray Advances Aerospace Standards with NCAMP Qualification for Innovative 3960 Prepreg System

Toray Composite Materials Achieves NCAMP Qualification for Cutting-Edge 3960 Prepreg System

Toray Composite Materials America, Inc., a premier name in the advanced composite materials industry, has successfully attained NCAMP qualification for its next-generation 3960 prepreg system. This groundbreaking achievement enables aerospace and defense manufacturers to enhance their workflow in selecting materials that meet stringent certification requirements. The data provided through NCAMP allows for informed material choices, ultimately streamlining production processes.

A Milestone in Composite Materials

Jeff Cross, the principal director of defense programs at Toray, emphasized the significance of this qualification. He remarked that it is a tremendous milestone for the company and supports their ongoing dedication to providing high-performance composite materials. By securing NCAMP qualification, aerospace and defense manufacturers now have access to a dependable and FAA-certified material system that mitigates certification risks and accelerates the pathway to market.

The NCAMP qualification involved comprehensive testing of Toray's 3960 prepreg system, including an extensive five-batch assessment. These efforts have produced approved NCAMP reports, which will be invaluable for manufacturers focusing on the aerospace and defense sectors. The 3960 prepreg system utilizes Toray's TORAYCA™ T1100 intermediate modulus plus (IM+) carbon fiber, which is designed to deliver superior toughness and performance in both hot and wet conditions, ensuring its suitability for primary structural materials found in aircraft, launch vehicles, and satellites.

Establishing a Robust Material Baseline

With the NCAMP qualification, Toray has created a robust material foundation for various aerospace applications. The reports detailing the qualification are now accessible to customers involved in both commercial and defense sectors. Further consolidating its position as an industry leader, Toray collaborated with NCAMP to produce NMS 397, a material and process specification accepted by both the FAA and EASA. This strategic partnership has also resulted in comprehensive test plans for the 3960/T1100 prepreg system. All products will be readily available for procurement under the NMS 397 specification.

At present, the testing has concluded for the 3960/T1100 prepreg in a plain weave (PW) format, and the report is under NCAMP review, with the release anticipated shortly.

Leading the Way in Automated Fabrication

In a groundbreaking move, Toray has generated a three-batch allowable dataset for the 3960/T1100 prepreg system, which has undergone Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) processing. This dataset supports the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory's (AFRL) Modeling for Affordable Sustainable Composite (MASC) program. It marks a significant first for the industry, providing a publicly available dataset pertinent to automated fabrication processes. The National Institute of Aviation Research (NIAR) played a crucial role in the management of fabrication and testing, further attesting to the outstanding performance and versatility of the 3960/T1100 prepreg system.

Toray's 3960/T1100 prepreg system is part of a wider array of composite materials qualified for significant aerospace and defense projects, underlining the company's extensive capabilities in supporting both primary and secondary structural applications.

About Toray Composite Materials America, Inc.

Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. specializes in the manufacturing and supply of TORAYCA™ carbon fiber and advanced thermoset prepreg systems. The materials produced by Toray are recognized globally for their quality, performance, and processing consistency. Boasting North America's largest carbon fiber and prepreg production capacity, Toray CMA addresses the needs of the aerospace and defense sectors, as well as a variety of markets spanning sports, recreation, automotive, and industrial applications. As a subsidiary of Toray Industries, Inc., Toray CMA is committed to tackling global challenges by offering high-value-added products, which include not only composites but also fibers and textiles, resins and films, and various other materials. To explore more about Toray CMA, visit www.toraycma.com or for wider company insights, visit www.toray.com.