Rubber Components in Aerospace | Keeping Air Traffic Under Control

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Wings and turbines are probably some of the first things you think of when you picture an airplane. Without these parts, a plane would be a giant bus that is far from street legal. Still, a plane needs more than just wings and engines to function. While aluminum makes up the majority of a plane’s design, rubber plays a critical role.

The aerospace industry creates some of man’s most advanced technologies, from international commercial airliners to space shuttles. Every piece of these machines contributes to the larger whole, so even the smallest rubber components are crucial for a safe operation. In other words, there is no way we could fly miles above the surface without rubber, and rubber components manufacturers have to make sure these parts meet extremely strict standards.

But wait, aren’t the landing gear tires the only important rubber part of an airplane? The plane would just scrape across the ground without it, and how would you even land a plane without “landing” gear? While true, there are several other rubber components in a plane that do far more than you’d expect.

Anyone who has been on a commercial airplane has heard the safety spiel before takeoff. While it can get annoying to hear for the umpteenth time, it bears repeating. A midair crisis is already bad enough, so you do not need a cabin full of uninformed passengers to boot.

The part of the safety demonstration that always stuck out to me was the bit about oxygen masks. I now know not to worry if the bag does not inflate and to always secure my mask before helping the person next to me. But this all links back to one thing: cabin pressure.

Cabin pressure may sound like your friends picking on you at summer camp, but it actually plays a huge role in your safety on a plane. Every airplane has to pump pressurized air into the cabin and fly at a certain altitude so people can breathe comfortably. This also prevents serious issues like decompression sickness or the bends. If there is a significant air leak, the cabin will decompress, forcing the pilots to reduce altitude and find somewhere to land.

Airplane windows are one of the more common causes of decompression. If the window has a leak, don’t worry: you won’t be sucked into the atmosphere like in the movies. You will, however, have to add several hours onto your trip while waiting to switch planes.

So what keeps the windows from leaking in the first place? The answer is rubber components, specifically rubber window glazing.

Window glazing is a type of seal that prevents air, water, and other fluids or gases from leaking into or out of windows. These seals are most commonly used for windows in residential and commercial properties to minimize energy usage for heating and A/C. While everyone wants to save some money on their electric bill, these seals also help maintain cabin pressurization.

An airplane window consists of multiple panels that regulate airflow in the cabin, but window glazing puts the finishing touches on sealing the cabin. This ensures that the external air pressure does not rapidly change the cabin pressure, so these rubber components are critical for keeping passengers, pilots, and attendants safe.

Rubber components manufacturers like Qualiform create custom window glazing, gaskets, and seals to meet the needs of the aerospace industry. Every plane model is different, so they can develop the ideal extrusion profile whether you are flying a Boeing 747 or an Airbus A330.

Rubber components manufacturing is a high-precision process requiring the expertise of proven designers and engineers. If you are looking to develop rubber parts for airplanes or any other industry from automotive to agriculture, collaborate with Qualiform Rubber Molding. Their experience in rubber molding allows them to create custom solutions for virtually any application.

When you choose Qualiform, you get to work directly with a team of rubber molding specialists from  early design and prototyping to final production of your components. They will be ready to make changes at any point in the manufacturing process to ensure your new parts meet your specifications and quality standards.

Need your rubber components quickly? No problem! Qualiform operates around the clock on a 3-shift/24-hour schedule, so they can offer the fastest possible lead times while maintaining competitive pricing. If you would like to learn more about Qualiform’s custom rubber products, contact them today to speak with their technical staff and get started on your next project!

Visit https://qualiformrubbermolding.com/ today.