News & Insights

Aerospace polymers significantly reduce aircraft weight by 50% compared to metal parts, revolutionizing how manufacturers approach structural component design. This weight reduction directly translates to improved fuel efficiency and substantially lower operational costs across the aviation industry. Furthermore, the global aerospace plastics market reached $7.61 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow to $13.89 billion by 2030, highlighting the increasing importance of these materials. High-performance thermoplastics like PEEK, ULTEM®,... Read More

PEEK and TORLON 4203 represent the pinnacle of high-performance thermoplastics for critical aerospace applications. Torlon PAI (polyamide-imide) demonstrates exceptional thermal resistance with continuous use temperatures up to 260°C, significantly outperforming many competing materials. Additionally, PAI nanofibers exhibit filtering efficiency above 90% for particles sized at 0.3 microns, making them ideal for specialized aerospace filtration systems. When selecting materials for mission-critical aerospace components, engineers must balance multiple performance factors. Torlon bushings... Read More

Biocompatible plastics have revolutionized the medical implant industry, offering distinctive advantages over traditional materials for long-term implantation. These specialized synthetic polymers provide superior performance when used within the human body, ensuring devices don't trigger adverse reactions. Specifically, PEEK (polyether ether ketone) stands as one of the most common polymer choices for implantable medical devices, available in FDA and USP Class VI approved medical grades. Since receiving FDA approval in 1998,... Read More

ULTEM® aerospace parts play a vital role in the industry because of their exceptional performance characteristics. ULTEM® stands out as one of the few resins with approval for aerospace applications. This 30-year old material powers flight-critical components. Our team at AIP Precision Machining has supplied ULTEM® components to aircraft OEM and MRO providers of all sizes worldwide. Engineers and procurement specialists need to know the differences between ULTEM® 1000 and... Read More

The aerospace industry now accounts for nearly 16% of the total revenue generated by the additive manufacturing industry. Precision 3D printers have achieved remarkable milestones, exemplified by Relativity Space launching the world's first 3D-printed rocket in March 2023. Despite these advancements, 3D printing technology still faces significant challenges, including high costs, low printing speeds, limited part sizes, and strength issues. While different 3D printing technologies offer varying capabilities regarding tolerances—such as MJF at... Read More