© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Christian-Pommer-Straße 34

38112 Braunschweig

-Germany-

Innovative fibre composite technology

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

1. The company

2. Fields of business

1. Astronautics

2. Aeronautics

3. Smart Works

4. Customer-Specific Products

5. Technical Services

3. Qualitymanagement

4. Technology

Ill.2 © Mechanik | fotolia.com, Ill 3 © dell | fotolia.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

INVENT GmbH

Facts

Development, production and

qualification of innovative fibre

composite structures with diverse

application possibilities

Founded: 1996

80 employees (as at Jan. 2013)

References: Airbus, Astrium, DLR,

ESA, Kayser Threde, Max Planck

Institute, OHB System

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Fields of business and competencies

Ill. 1 © Leo Blanchette | fotolia.com, Ill. 7 © Galdzer | Dreamstime.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Astronautics

Ill. 4 © Galdzer | Dreamstime.com, Ill. 5 © Mechanik | fotolia.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Astronautics

Business activities

Production of components up to primary structures for

astronautic applications

Design of the components

Verification through testing

ECSS quality management

Scope:

Design optimisation regarding weight, mechanical, thermal

and electrical requirements

High level of accuracy for surfaces and interfaces

Surface treatments

Ill. 1, 2 © ESA

Ill. 2: SWARM integration

Ill. 1: TerraSAR/TanDEM-X in formation flight

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Astronautics

Components

Production processes: DP-RTM, SLI, prepreg and

winding techniques

Examples:

– sections, angles

– plates

– struts

– honeycomb structures from fibre composites

– individually-designed components

Missions: TerraSAR-X, Tandem-X, Herschel, Sentinel

1A & 1B, ADM Aeolus, EnMap, SWARM, Solar Sail,

ExoMars TGO

Ill. 1: CFRP honeycomb structure CCORE

Ill. 2: Structural components (Herschel)

Ill. 3: ADM Aeolus solar protection

Ill. 4: Diverse structural components

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Astronautics

Assembly groups

(Pre-) Assembly using bonding and bolting

techniques

Examples:

– instrument structures

– antenna reflectors and assembly groups

– optical benches

– individually-designed elements

Missions: ExoMars Lander, BepiColombo H2Sat, ESA/ DLR

developments

Ill. 2 © HPS GmbH

Ill. 1: BepiColombo mounting structure

Ill. 2: Satellite antenna STANT

Ill. 3: Satellite antenna reflector

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Astronautics

Satellite structures

Components or complete assembly groups

Examples:

– sandwich panels from fibre composite or metal

– radiators

– monolithic structures

– tertiary structures

– strut frameworks

Missions: ExoMars TGO, Galileo FOC, eROSITA

Ill. 1: Sandwich panel (Exomars TGO)

Ill. 2-4: Satellite structure (eROSITA)

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Aeronautics

Ill.4 © Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY 2.0)

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Aeronautics

Business activities

Production of qualified components

Quality management in accordance with DIN EN 9100 :

2009

Design and structural analysis of the components

Verification through testing

Concept studies

Scope:

Testing components: test specimens, test structures,

structural components

Flight hardware

Individual prototype and series production

100% in-house process chain, from incoming-goods

inspection up to final surface treatment

Ill. 2: Airbus 400M

Ill. 1: Airbus 380

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Aeronautics

Series production

The entire production and quality assurance from a

single source

Production of composite components

– monolithic and sandwich components

– painting and edge-sealing

– QA related to process and component

Special components

– external covers

– interior and operating panels

– primary structure: profiles, ribs,...

– fresh and waste water tanks

“Tier 1” supplier for Airbus

Ill.1: Airbus 380

Ill.2: FST proof cover of the A330

Sandwich cover of the A320 family

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Aeronautics

Customer-specific conversions

Cost-efficient custom-made single-item production

Material choice in accordance with aircraft

manufacturer’s specifications

Individual component adaptation directly on aircraft

Refurbishment/modification

– wing and fuselage coverings

– interior coverings

– air-conditioning pipes

– camera covers

– window frames

Integration of new elements through matching

decoration or functional coatings in existing

surroundings

Examples: police helicopter squadron, Aerodata

Ill.1: Nose boom (Dornier 728 Jet)

Ill.2: Landing gear door (Dornier 728 Jet)

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Aeronautics

Test programmes

Material qualification

Construction and design of flying/non-flying

components

– fulfilment of safety requirements

– proof of design regarding material characteristics

Laminate production

Test specimens

– determination of basis parameters of the material

– behaviour of joining techniques

• bonded joints

• assemblies

– performance of Round Robins (e.g. Airbus CAT 1 PTP)

Test structures

– mechanical behaviour of a assembly design

Structural components

– e.g. acoustic trials

Ill.1: Test specimens

Ill.2: Wing test panel (A400M)

Ill.3: Structural components test panel (A350XWB)

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Smart Works

Ill.2 © Paylessimages | fotolia.com, Ill.3 © Beboy | fotolia.com, Ill.4 © Andreiadis | Dreamstime.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Smart Works

Multi-functional materials (piezo composites)

Robust, compact, multi-functional components

Long service life due to encapsulation of fine

piezoceramics in polymer composites

Series and customer-specific construction methods

Worldwide marketing through PI Ceramic under the

brand name DuraActTM

Application:

Sensory (direct) piezo effect:

– highly-sensitive, energy self-sufficient sensors

– energy generation (energy harvesting)

– structure surveillance (SHM)

Actuator (indirect) piezo effect:

– vibration control & noise reduction

– highly-dynamic adjustment components & adaptronic

systems

– contour verification

Ill.1: Schematic structure DuraAct™

Ill.2: Construction method enables high flexibility

Ill.3: DuraActTM

– Series construction forms

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Smart Works

Functional integration

Integration of additional elements in fibre composite

enables the production of lighter and more robust

components with new functional combinations

Development of new technologies for the power flow-

considerate integration of:

– sensors and sensor fibres, e.g. fibre-optic systems

– actuators

– heating elements

– lighting elements (LED, OLED)

– micro-electronic components

Research projects

Printed sensors and electronics on textile semi-finished

parts

Integrated structure surveillance systems (Structural

Health Monitoring, SHM)

Ill.1: Functional integration in CFRP

Ill.2: SHM bridge

Ill.3: DEFIS sensor test module

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Smart Works

Nano materials

Nano-structured carbons such as carbon nanotubes

(CNT) or graphenes combine extremely good

mechanical/electrical/thermal/optical characteristics with

low density

Embedding in polymers enables a new material class

with unique characteristics

– Components/coatings with high absorption or emission

coefficients

– Light structural components with higher electrical/thermal

conductivity

– Light material for electro-magnetic shielding

– Adaptive thermal expansion coefficients (CTE)

Development of an innovative process for the production

of composites with a very high CNT or graphene content

(up to 80 wt.%)

Ill.1: Molecular construction of the carbon nanotubes

Ill.1 © Andreiadis | Dreamstime.com

Ill.2,3: Example geometry CNT composite

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Customer-specific products

Ill.4 © Peter Wienerroither | fotolia.com, Ill.5 © Chrispo | fotolia.com, Ill.7 © Cla78 | fotolia.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Customer-specific products

Business activities

Developments individually tailored to meet the

customer’s needs

Production processes and fibre composite products

Topics in addition to aviation and astronautics:

– general mechanical engineering, astronomical applications

– automotive and rail vehicle construction

– naval applications

– medical technology

Scope

Concept studies, component qualification

Material and process development

Experimental material systems

Toolmaking

Ill.3 © Cla78 | fotolia.com

Ill.1: Large Binocular Telescope (LBT)

Ill.2: Military helicopter NH90

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Customer-specific products

Shape-variable structures - morphing

Component adaptation to varying operating conditions

Aviation: materials and production technologies for adaptive

high-lift systems

Astronautics: Solar Sail

– development and production of the unfolding module in

the first study phase, manufacture of ultra-light CFRP

booms

Military applications

Focus placed upon robustness, low weight,

structural resilience and compact form

– functional integration: radar permeability, energy

absorption, early damage detection

– CFRP pioneer bridge with a load capacity of 14t with a

length of 21m and a total weight of 3.6t (2 integral

components: sidewall bearer and driving platform as

compact system)

– A400M: complex structural components for tests

Ill.1: Demonstrator Smart Droop Nose (with DLR)

Ill.2: Solar Sail

Ill.3: Pioneer bridge

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Customer-specific products

Telescope structures

Light, highly-rigid framework structures in combination with

sandwich or monolithic prepreg construction method, for high-

precision and extremely robust structures

Optical calibration is not influenced by the structure

(expansion/outgassing)

Individual manufacture of metallic fasteners or instrument

brackets

Astronomical applications

Missions & products: solar protection for Sofia (NASA), optical

bench for the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), development,

production and testing of the struts for the ADM Aeolus’ external

baffle, Serruier supporting framework structure and diverse

components for Sunrise (Max Planck)

Ill.1: Sofia

Ill.3: Optical bench (LBT)

Ill.2: ADM Aeolus solar protection

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Customer-specific products

Automotive

Exploitation of the achievement potential through fibre

composite materials (technically & economically efficient)

Development and testing of material systems, constructions

suitable for joining technology, components and production

technologies up to small-series

New & hybrid material systems

Application of innovative fibre-matrix systems for various

branches of industry

Integration of additional materials, such as metals or

elastomers

Rapid-curing resin systems

Process development for application at the customer’s

premises

Ill. 2: Resins, CF, natural fibre and glass fibre woven fabrics

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Customer-specific products

Biocomposites – natural fibre-reinforced plastics

Ecological alternative material

Low energy consumption during manufacture

compared to conventional fibres

High degree of CO2 neutrality

Very good damping characteristics

Application in coverings and structural components

Products: diverse add-on components for vehicle

bodies, industrial safety helmets, Canadian-type sport

canoes, leaflet stands, briefcases, cladding elements

Ill.1: Vehicle body from biocomposite

Ill. 2: Industrial safety helmets from biocomposite

Ill. 3: Canadian canoe from biocomposite

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Technical services

Ill.3 © roxx0r | fotolia.com, Ill.4 © Sebastian Wolf | fotolia.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Technical service

Technischer Service

Business activities

Construction:

– Catia V5

– Draftsight

– Mechanical Desktop

Structural analysis:

– Ansys Classic

– Ansys Workbench

Material design:

– ESAComp

– Compositor

– Lamtech

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Technical service

Design & structural analysis

Development of a fibre composite-compatible design

Exact definition of suitable materials, layer constructions und

geometries

Modelling of mechanical/thermal characteristics

Missions: BepiColombo, EnMap, Transrapid nose fairing,

ADM Aeolus

Example: BepiColombo Laser Altimeter (BELA)

Construction, design, FEM calculation (mount structure)

Verification in accordance with ESA requirements

– Load cases: e.g. temperature, random vibration, shock

Production of EQM and FM

Mechanical stress tests successfully completed in summer

2012, mission to Mercury will start in 2015

Ill.1: Bipod (EnMap)

Ill.2: Transrapid

Ill.3: BepiColombo

Ill.3 © ESA – P. Carril

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Technical service

Material qualification

In accordance with aviation and astronautic requirements

Verification through material samples, near-net shape

samples, construction methods and components

Missions/products: DESY, CCORE

Example: High-accuracy measuring apparatus

(DESY)

Objective: No longitudinal thermal expansion

Load-bearing structure from CFRP

Material choice

– High-modulus fibres, epoxy resin

Calculation of a suitable laminate structure

Experimental verification:

– coefficient of thermal expansion a < 0,08x10-6/K

Small-series production using filament winding techniques

Ill. 2: CFRP pipe (particle accelerator DESY)

Ill.1: CFRP honeycomb material CCORE

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Technical service

Fibre composite training courses

Practice-oriented and personally-customised

programme

Example subjects:

– material fundamentals

– production techniques

– material-appropriate engineering

– processing techniques and quality control

– practical exercises within the INVENT GmbH

production environment

Target group:

– Engineers and technicians from the fields of

development, construction, manufacturing and work

scheduling

Ill.1 © Pixelot | fotolia.com

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Quality management

Certified in accordance with DIN EN ISO 9001 :

2008 and DIN EN 9100 : 2009

Quality assurance through non-destructive and

destructive testing (witness sampling during

manufacturing)

Regular internal and external quality audits

Transparent processes and procedures

Regular employee training

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Technology

Autoclave technology

Paint shop

Ovens

Prepreg technology

Compression moulding technology

Testing technology

Cleanroom

Winding technology

Machining technology

© 2013 INVENT GmbH

Thank you for your attention!

Christian-Pommer-Straße 34 38112 Braunschweig -Germany- Tel: 0531 244660 Fax: 0531 2446688 info@invent-gmbh.de www.invent-gmbh.de