Elastomerics Blog

As advanced air mobility (AAM) continues to grow, so does the demand for reliable materials in eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft design. These innovative vehicles require materials that not only meet stringent safety standards, but also maintain exceptional performance in extreme conditions. Rogers BISCO® BF-1000 silicone foam, paired with Stockwell Elastomerics precision fabrication and application engineering expertise, provides superior solutions for floor panel sealing in eVTOL interiors.

Application Overview

Floor panel sealing in eVTOLs plays an important role for cabin safety, structural durability, and passenger comfort. These floor panels must meet strict aerospace flammability standards, provide reliable sealing in harsh environments, and resist wear and tear over long periods of time.

Material Spotlight

When it comes to tackling the unique demands of eVTOL floor panel sealing, BF-1000 silicone foam is the go-to solution. This extra-soft silicone foam combines great compressibility, softness, and durability, making it ideal for critical sealing applications. Its excellent memory and low stress relaxation minimize maintenance costs by reducing gasket failures caused by compression set or material softening. With low closure force, BISCO BF-1000 produces a reliable seal with minimal compression, enabling lightweight designs and efficient assembly, both of which are important for eVTOL applications.

Why Choose BISCO BF-1000 Silicone Foam?

• Superior Compression Set Resistance: Maintains a reliable seal under repeated compression, with a compression set of < 5%
• Fire Resistance: Meets FAR 25.853 burn standards and key aerospace certifications, including Boeing BMS 1-68 and Airbus ABS5006
• Durability: Engineered to endure harsh aerospace conditions, offering resistance to UV, ozone, and extreme temperatures for long lasting performance
• High Compressibility: Easily adapts to variable width gaps, providing greater design flexibility and ensuring a perfect fit for floor panel sealing
• Low Closure Force: Reduces stress on components, enabling efficient assembly, lightweight design, and long term performance

Additional Applications of BF-1000 in eVTOL

Foams like BISCO BF-1000 or BISCO BF-2000 can be used for expansion pads within the battery enclosure to help maintain stability during battery expansion and reduction phases. These foams can also be used as gap pads to prevent damage from battery contact Foam vibration damping around batteries in eVTOLs are important for the type of weight-saving Cell-to-Chassis assemblies that can be seen in wing and boon structures.

The materials mentioned for these applications are low density, high reliability materials that exhibit a long cycle life for pads and seals. For both battery packs and carpet padding, BF-1000 touts excellent rebound. Its open cell structure allows the material to rebound quickly with a high level of resistance to developing a permanent set.

Compliance to Aerospace Standards

Rogers conducts extensive material testing and certification to meet stringent aerospace standards. Stockwell Elastomerics has the capability to perform part-specific compression testing to get the most accurate, part-specific CFD information.

The Rogers-Stockwell Elastomerics Advantage

Rogers Corporation and Stockwell Elastomerics deliver unmatched expertise in aerospace materials and fabrication. This partnership combines Rogers high performance materials with Stockwell Elastomerics’ advanced engineering and manufacturing capabilities, helping eVTOL manufacturers overcome the toughest eVTOL design challenges.

Learn More

With decades of aerospace experience and thousands of applications served, Rogers and Stockwell Elastomerics are trusted partners for innovation in the advanced air mobility sector.
Contact us to learn more about how BISCO BF-1000 and other high performance materials can take your eVTOL designs to new heights.

To find more information on similar materials applications in eVTOL, read the other blogs in this series:
Fabricating eVTOL: An Overview of Silicone Materials for Advanced Air Mobility
Advanced Air Mobility: Sealing and Gap Filling Solutions for eVTOLS

BISCO® BF-1000 and BISCO® BF-2000 are registered trademarks of Rogers Corporation.