Materials and Processes for Aircraft Environmental Controls in the 1990's

A forecast is presented of the materials and processes expected to be used in aircraft environmental control systems (ECS) in the 1990's. It is expected that ECS components will not change drastically in design and function but materials used for their construction will change considerably. The anticipated innovations include:

1. 1.
   Use of new alloys,
2. 2.
   greater use of “near-net-shape” parts,
3. 3.
   employment of low cost alloys modified by ion implantation or by laser glazing, and
4. 4.
   greater use of fiber reinforced plastics, thermoformable plastics, reinforced stampable plastics and fiber reinforced metal matrix composites.