What is a sandwich panel?

A sandwich panel is a composite panel that uses stiff and strong skins (face sheets) bonded to a lightweight core. Common skin materials are carbon fiber and fiberglass. Common core materials are foam and aluminum or aramid honeycomb. Sandwich panels are incredibly lightweight and strong.

What are sandwich panels used for?

Sandwich panels are used when a super lightweight assembly is required. The interior structure (walls, floors, etc.) of airplanes are usually constructed of sandwich panels instead of solid materials. Satellites, trains and racecars also use sandwich panels to reduce weight as much as possible while holding strong.

What makes a sandwich panel different from a carbon fiber plate?

Sandwich panels offer the stiffness and strength of a thicker plate without the extra weight. Since most of the heavy lifting on a plate is done by the outermost skins, replacing the middle with a lightweight core has minimal effect on properties. Core materials are usually 95%+ lighter than carbon fiber.

Can you mount things to a sandwich panel?

Since the skins on a sandwich panel are so thin extra precautions must be taken when mounting things to them. Bonding a fastener to the surface works in many cases. For through bolts it’s necessary to use an insert or fill a section of core with adhesive to keep the panel from crushing as the bolt is tightened.

Sandwich Panels

Composite sandwich panels offer higher strength-to-weight ratios than solid composite laminates alone. We offer a variety of core/laminate combinations. Whether your project is big or small, we are bound to have a product that suits your needs. We also offer machining services. Contact us for a quote!

Sandwich Panels

Nomex Core Sandwich Panels

Foam Core Sandwich Panels

Aluminum Core Sandwich Panels