Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems (DABS) of Coventry, UK has won a contract worth nearly €3 million to supply Carbon-Carbon (C-C) composite tiles for the interior of the EFDA JET (European Fusion Development Agreement, Joint European Torus) facility at the Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire.
The contract, which was awarded by the European Community, is to supply plasma-facing tiles for this world-leading experimental fusion machine at Culham, funded by the European Union as part of the research programme into fusion energy. The Dunlop Aerospace tiles are used to clad metallic parts of the machine’s inner walls to ensure that the plasma, which reaches temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius, does not come into contact with any internal structures.
Since the 1980s, Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems has worked closely with fusion projects in Europe and North America. The carbon materials used in fusion research applications have properties similar to those required in aircraft friction materials – the ability to transfer large heat fluxes and to retain strength at high temperatures and low density.
David Johnson, Managing Director of Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems, commented: “Our collaboration with EFDA JET has been an significant factor in the intensive development programme we have sustained over many years. We remain at the forefront of carbon materials technology not only in terms of research but with products in high-end applications around the world.”
Dunlop Aerospace manufactures C-C materials at temperatures of 2400ºC and beyond, primarily for use as friction disks in aircraft brakes, but also for non-aviation friction applications, including train brakes and brakes and clutches for Formula 1 racing cars. C-C composites are also manufactured for non-friction applications such as high-temperature furnace furniture, furnace heating systems and heatsinks for satellite electronics systems.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
David Sommerlad
Tel +44 (0)1844 238352
Fax +44 (0)1844 238464
david@dspr.co.uk
Fiona Greig
Tel: +44 (0)1202 597587
Fax: +44 (0)1202 597555
fiona.greig@meggitt.com
EDITOR'S NOTES
1. Based in Coventry, United Kingdom, Dunlop Aerospace Braking Systems designs and manufactures high performance, highly reliable braking technologies for aircraft. These include hydraulically actuated carbon composite and steel brakes and mechanical and digital anti-skid brake control systems and electrically actuated carbon composite brakes (known as the E-brake™) are in development. Its carbon brakes and lightweight alloy wheels are deployed across the military and commercial spectrum from the latest business jets such as the Gulfstream G550, state-of-the-art large jets like the Airbus A380 and advanced military jet programmes including the Joint Strike Fighter. All products are supported internationally with a dedicated aftermarket organisation.
2. Dunlop Aerospace Brakign Systems is a Meggitt group company Headquartered in the UK, Meggitt PLC is an international group of companies operating in North America, Europe and Asia. Known for its specialist extreme environment engineering, Meggitt is a world leader in the aerospace, defence and electronics industries.
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