Every movement in modern aircraft – from deploying a landing gear to adjusting the wing flaps – is powered by actuators. These precision systems transform energy into motion, making flight possible. In aerospace, where performance and reliability are non-negotiable, thermoset composites laminates have become the material of choice – delivering strength, stability, and endurance that traditional materials can’t match.
When a pilot adjusts the flaps for takeoff, lowers the landing gear, or stabilizes a turn, there’s one type of component quietly making it all possible: the actuator. These precision devices convert energy – whether electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic – into motion. In aerospace, actuators are everywhere: controlling flight surfaces, deploying landing gear, adjusting thrust, managing fuel systems, and even regulating cabin environments.
Actuators are the muscles of modern aircraft, and when reliability is non-negotiable, thermoset composites help keep those muscles strong.
Actuators: The Motion Behind the Mission
An actuator takes input energy and transforms it into controlled, physical movement.
- Linear actuators move components in a straight line – like extending landing gear or flaps.
- Rotary actuators produce rotation – like turning a valve or adjusting a jet engine inlet.
In aerospace, actuators are the mechanical link between pilot commands and aircraft response. They are critical to flight safety, performance, and efficiency – so every material used in their design must perform without compromise, no matter the conditions.
Why Thermoset Composites Are Changing the Game
Aerospace manufacturers are turning to thermoset composites – like epoxy and phenolic laminates – for actuator housings, insulation, brackets, and structural components. These materials outperform traditional metals and thermoplastics in several key ways:
Strength Without Weight
Thermoset composites offer an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, allowing actuator systems to deliver high output forces with lower mass. Every gram matters in aerospace, and reducing actuator weight contributes directly to better fuel efficiency and range.
Thermal and Dimensional Stability
Unlike metals, thermoset composites resist deformation under extreme heat or rapid temperature changes. They maintain precise tolerances through thermal cycling, ensuring actuators remain accurate and stable throughout long missions and altitude shifts.
Electrical and Thermal Insulation
Because actuators often operate near high-voltage systems or within electromechanical assemblies, electrical insulation is vital. Thermoset composites are naturally dielectric, protecting against electrical failures and ensuring safe, consistent performance even in high-energy environments.
Corrosion and Chemical Resistance
Actuators face exposure to hydraulic fluids, jet fuel, and atmospheric moisture. Thermoset composites are inherently corrosion-proof, preventing degradation that can lead to costly maintenance or failure.
Long-Term Reliability
With exceptional fatigue resistance, thermoset components endure millions of movement cycles without cracking or delaminating – ideal for aerospace actuators that must perform flawlessly, flight after flight.
Where They’re Found: Everywhere Motion Matters
Actuators powered by thermoset composite components can be found in nearly every aerospace system:
- Flight Control Surfaces: Move rudders, elevators, and flaps.
- Landing Gear Systems: Extend, retract, and brake assemblies.
- Engine and Thrust Control: Adjust inlets, nozzles, and reversers.
- Doors and Cargo Systems: Automate service and access points.
- Fuel and Hydraulic Systems: Open and close critical valves.
- Autonomous Platforms and Spacecraft: Control robotic arms, solar arrays, and antennas.
The Atlas Fibre Advantage
At Atlas Fibre, we manufacture precision thermoset composites engineered to perform where weight, temperature, and reliability intersect. The materials we machine support aerospace actuator systems that demand:
- Consistent mechanical and thermal performance
- Electrical insulation and flame resistance
- Lightweight durability and dimensional accuracy
Whether used in advanced piezoelectric actuators, soft robotic systems, or traditional hydraulic assemblies, our composites deliver Precision Without Compromise – ensuring performance that lasts from takeoff to landing and beyond.
Built for Motion. Built for Flight. Built for What’s Next.
As the aerospace industry continues its shift toward “more electric aircraft”, the role of thermoset composites will only expand – making actuation systems lighter, safer, and more energy-efficient.
At Atlas Fibre, we’re proud to supply the materials that make those systems possible.