Innovation inspired by Sustainable Development is essential to the Group’s growth. The Solar Impulse partnership was selected at the 2008 Strategic Review as symbol to carry aloft these values and promote initiatives in these areas that will provide answers to the challenges of the future.
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Solar Impulse represented a huge challenge, and Solvay took it on. In 2004 our company became the first main partner of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg's solar airplane project. This partnership is proving to be a fantastic driver for our Group’s research.
Solar Impulse has led Solvay researchers to tackle several technological challenges, in particular developing new lightweight materials in an effort to minimize the airplane’s weight.
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Solvay materials in over 4000 parts
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Over 4000 parts in the airplane contain Solvay materials, with specialty polymer ball bearings, screws, washers and rivets (PrimoSpire™, KetaSpire™, Torlon®, etc.) replacing conventional metal parts.
Many of the 12 Solvay solutions selected for the airplane come from Solvay Advanced Polymers, but other entities like Solvay Fluor have also provided important contributions. The airplane cockpit, for example, is made of a particularly light and high-insulation polyurethane foamed with Solkane® gas. That is essential for the survival of pilot, as Solar Impulse will be flying at outside temperatures down to -60°C.
Solvay Solexis is also present in the aircraft with products such as the battery component Solef® and its Fomblin® very high performance lubricant.
Take-off: spring 2009
A prototype of the Solar Impulse is currently under construction and should take to the air in spring 2009, making aviation history. For further information, look up the Solar Impulse internet site.
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The "eggshell" cockpit:
a Solvay Solution
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Solar Impulse pictures: © Solar Impulse/EPFL Claudio Leonardi
