CHARLOTTE, N.C., Jan. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- UTC
Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX),
has obtained an exclusive license from Metis Design Corp. to a
carbon nanotube (CNT) heater based technology for aircraft
electrothermal ice protection. This technology was co-developed by
Metis Design Corp. and the Department of Aeronautics and
Astronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
This technology supports the aerospace industry's growing need for
more durable, lightweight, damage-tolerant and low-power ice
protection systems. Aircraft ice protection systems remove or
prevent ice from accumulating on the leading edges of wings,
stabilizers, and engine nacelles. Once implemented on aircraft, UTC
Aerospace Systems' electrothermal ice protection systems with CNT
technology will deliver uniform heat distribution, enhanced damage
tolerance and improved fatigue resistance in a lightweight
system.
"Thin layers of carbon nanotubes have several emerging and
exciting aerospace applications. This technology strengthens UTC
Aerospace Systems capability to deliver the most innovative
solutions for aircraft ice protection systems," said Dr.
Mauro Atalla, Vice President,
Engineering and Technology, Sensors & Integrated Systems, UTC
Aerospace Systems. "CNT technology is ideally suited for our ice
protection product line, and we have already seen positive customer
feedback from testing conducted at our icing wind tunnel. Metis
Design has developed this technology over several years and has
demonstrated its feasibility in several projects."
UTC Aerospace Systems' Sensors & Integrated Systems business
is a leading supplier of pneumatic de-icing, ice detection and
electrothermal ice protection, with a presence on hundreds of
aircraft types. The use of electrothermal ice protection systems is
expected to grow as new aircraft become "more electric," which will
result in a shift away from energy-inefficient bleed air
systems. Products built with CNT enable the use of
lightweight heaters, have lower thermal inertia and increased
damage tolerance compared to traditional electrothermal systems. "I
am excited to add CNT capabilities to our de-icing offering,
enhancing our innovative product solutions for our customers," said
Justin Keppy, President, Sensors
& Integrated Systems, UTC Aerospace Systems.
Metis Design is a technical consulting firm that focuses on
structural health monitoring and multifunctional materials.
Integration of the new systems with CNT technology will take place
at the UTC Aerospace Systems facility in Uniontown, Ohio, with support from Metis
Design in Boston and the United
Technologies Research Center in East
Hartford, CT.
UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services
integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense
industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base
with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service
facilities. Follow the company on Twitter: @UTCAeroSystems.
United Technologies Corp., based in Farmington, Connecticut, provides
high-technology systems and services to the building and aerospace
industries. To learn more about UTC, visit the website at
www.utc.com or follow the company on Twitter: @UTC.
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SOURCE UTC Aerospace Systems