Solvay materials in Solar Impulse

Solvay products are on board the first solar airplane.

Solvay's contribution to the Solar Impulse is based on research into innovative materials and technical solutions, the replication and simulation of  their behavior in extreme environments, their technical evaluation and the conducting of a series of tests.
More specifically, Solvay's technical partnership with Solar Impulse, involving both the Chemicals and Plastics divisions, focuses on the following areas:

• research into optimum solutions and materials, especially through the definition of composite structure materials and high-performance plastics for metal replacement

• production and/or selection of high performance polymers for critical applications (watertight joints, lubrication, etc…)

• methods of encapsulating and assembling photovoltaic cells using the structural material selected for the plane

• research into the production and utilization of appropriate photovoltaic materials

• solutions for improved (Ion-polymer) batteries

• selection of high-performance thermal insulation materials parts

• mechanical evaluation and testing of materials in extreme conditions

• non-linear numerical simulation using software adapted to suit large-scale

Solvay's expertise, solutions and ultra-high performance polymers have generated the components without which this first exploit would not have been possible.



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Solar Impulse pictures: © Solar Impulse/EPFL Claudio Leonardi