The drone industry has developed rapidly in recent years, with various brands of drones appearing one after another and being constantly updated. The shape, structure and materials of drones are important links in drone product design. In order to ensure the carrying capacity and extend the endurance of the drone, its shell structure needs to be strong and light. At present, UAV shell parts are generally made of engineering plastics, but they are gradually being replaced by carbon fiber composite materials. Carbon fiber composite materials are light in weight, have high specific stiffness and high strength, and can be integrated into various shapes and structures. It is currently the best material for injection molding of drone shells, and it is irreplaceable.
As a high-tech product, drones can be used for aerial photography, image transmission, geographical survey, plant protection and watering, surveying and mapping, etc. They are now used in a wide range of fields and are involved in many fields. Its working principle is the same as that of an airplane. Only by being light and strong can it work better. The excellent properties of the emerging material carbon fiber make it a suitable material for manufacturing drones.
UAV manufacturing materials are very diverse. Early UAV manufacturing materials were mostly aluminum alloys, and a small amount of titanium alloys, steel, etc. Metal materials have high strength, but are heavy in weight. The specific strength and specific stiffness are generally low, resulting in a small payload coefficient for UAVs, and they easily reflect radar signals to form secondary bands, which is very disadvantageous if used in the military. Carbon fiber material can just make up for these shortcomings. It has high specific strength and good electromagnetic shielding effect. The following editor will explain to you the reasons for choosing carbon fiber to manufacture drones.
Carbon fiber materials are lightweight, high-strength, and have very good physical and chemical properties. Today’s aerial photography aircraft, plant protection aircraft, model toy aircraft and other aircraft tend to use this high-tech material, which is very popular among people. In terms of performance: Compared with metals, the weight of aluminum alloys is low, and it varies depending on the alloying elements added. The density is generally around 2.2~2.8g/cm^3, the tensile strength is around 300MPa, and the elasticity and rigidity are relatively low. Low. Aluminum itself is a material that is easily corroded, but aluminum alloys have very good corrosion resistance. They can form an oxide film in the air to prevent further corrosion. The density of carbon fiber composite materials is only 1.6g/cm^3, its strength is higher than steel, and it is earthquake-resistant, high-temperature resistant, low-temperature resistant, and has a low thermal expansion coefficient, making it superior to aluminum alloys.
There are various molding processes for carbon fiber tubes, including winding, molding, pultrusion and autoclave molding. Compared with aluminum alloy materials, it is easy to form in one piece, which can reduce the use of spare parts, simplify the structure and reduce weight.
The price of carbon fiber is higher than that of aluminum alloy, but with the development of the economy, its price is gradually becoming more affordable. Moreover, the use of lightweight carbon fiber materials can reduce the energy consumption of drones, which is also of great significance to environmental protection. In the long run, the economic benefits are significant.
The fatigue limit of most metals is 30% to 50% of its tensile strength, while the fatigue limit of carbon fiber composite materials can reach 70% to 80% of its tensile strength, which reduces sudden accidents during use and is highly safe. ,long life. Today’s drones tend to use carbon fiber materials.
The specific advantages of carbon fiber drones are:
1. Light weight and high strength. The weight is only a quarter of steel, but the strength is four times greater than steel. The material stability is very good.
2. Anti-aging and long service life. Unlike metal materials, carbon fiber is resistant to corrosion, rust, and salt spray, and can be used for a long time.
3. Good safety, good impact resistance and high designability. The high strength of carbon fiber can withstand the strong resistance encountered during flight, so you don’t have to worry about damage if you accidentally make a mistake or hit other objects.
4. Beautiful appearance. The black woven pattern is very trendy and fashionable, and is deeply loved by young people.