This section provides an overview for honeycomb cores as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 13 honeycomb core manufacturers and their company rankings.
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Honeycomb means beehive. As the name implies, a honeycomb core refers to a structure consisting of identical three-dimensional figures arranged without gaps. The typical structure is an array of hexagons.
Because more than 90% of the structure is air, it is a lightweight material. It is also used in aircraft, where lightness and strength are required, because of its strength and shock-absorbing properties.
The large number of air voids in the material also allows it to regulate the flow of air in a certain direction. The rectifying effect is also used in showcases and wind tunnels.
Honeycomb cores are mainly classified into aluminum honeycomb, aramid honeycomb, and paper honeycomb.
Aluminum foil is formed into a honeycomb structure. Aluminum is one of the lightest metals and also has excellent compressive strength.
Taking advantage of its lightness and strength, it is used in various fields such as automobiles, trains, and aircraft.
Aramid paper is formed into a honeycomb structure and impregnated with phenolic resin.
Aramid has excellent properties for tensile strength, impact resistance, lightweight, and flexibility. It also offers fire resistance and chemical and thermal stability.
It is increasingly being used in aircraft, replacing aluminum honeycomb.
However, it also has disadvantages, such as dimensional change due to moisture absorption and high price.
Paper is molded into a honeycomb structure. Kraft paper is used.
It is lighter than aluminum and aramid. It is also an environmentally friendly material because it is recyclable.
It is used for construction materials, packing materials, and partitions for display spaces.
Because it is paper, it has weaknesses in water resistance and heat stability. Currently, to compensate for the weaknesses, there is a method of applying a porous silica film to the surface.
The honeycomb structure is fabricated by gluing sheets together. There are two methods of making honeycomb cores: the tension method and the corrugated method, with the tension method being the most common. The principle of the tension method is explained here.
First, the required amount is cut from a roll of raw material and formed into a sheet. The cut sheets are degreased as a pretreatment. In the case of metallic materials, etching is also required.
After pretreatment, an adhesive is applied to the sheet. Instead of applying the adhesive to the entire sheet, create a linear pattern with areas to be coated and areas not to be coated. Layers and layers of adhesive coated sheets are laid on top of each other.
By stretching the layered sheets (spreading them out from their folded state), the areas not coated with adhesive are spread out to form the honeycomb core.
Depending on the application, the honeycomb core may be laminated with a surface material on both sides to form a sandwich panel structure. When sandwich panels are used, the surfaces to be laminated must be treated.
In addition to the surface treatment, a release film is sometimes applied to prevent the adhesive applied to the sheet from sticking.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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