NCAMP, the National Center for Advanced Materials Performance, works with the FAA and industry partners to qualify material systems and populate a shared materials database that can be viewed publicly. NCAMP started as a FAA-funded program within the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University and stemmed from NASA's 1995 Advanced General Aviation Transport Experiment (AGATE).
What is the benefit to aircraft manufacturers?
Instead of qualifying an entire material system, manufacturers can pull a system from
the NCAMP database, prove equivalency and gain FAA certification in a quicker and
cheaper manner than a typical qualification approach.
What is the benefit to materials suppliers?
Material suppliers can work with NCAMP to qualify material systems without having
to be linked to an ongoing aircraft certification program. This allows the material
supplier to get their material out into the market via a public forum with generated
allowables and FAA certification.
Which material systems are currently NCAMP-qualified?
Additive Manufacturing Materials
- Stratasys Fortus 900mc, ULTEM 9085
- Markforged X7, Onyx FR-A w/ Carbon Fiber FR-A
Thermoset Materials
- Cytec, a Syensqo company 5320-1
- T650 Unidirectional Tape
- T650 3k-PW Fabric
- Cytec, a Syensqo company MTM45-1
- Style 7781 E Glass Fabric
- Style 6781 S2 Glass Fabric
- 3K PW G30-500 Fabric
- 12K AS4 Unidirectional Tape
- 12K HTS5631 Unidirectional Tape (HTS40)
- IM7 Unidirectional Tape
- AS4 PW Fabric
- Hexcel 8552
- AS4 Unidirectional Tape
- IM7 Unidirectional Tape
- AS4 PW Fabric
- AS4 3k 8HS
- Newport NCT4708
- MR60H Unidirectional Tape
- Toray (formerly TenCate) BT250E-6
- IM7 GP Unidirectional Tape
- AS4C 3K-PW Fabric
- S2 Unidirectional Tape
- Toray (formerly TenCate) TC250
- 12k HTS40 PW Fabric
Thermosets Repair
- Cytec, a Syensqo company 5320-1 Repair
Thermoplastic Materials
- Teijin Tenax-E TPWF/TPCL PEEK
- HTA40 E13 3K 5HS
- Toray (formerly TenCate) TC1225 (Discontinued*)
- T700 Unidirectional Tape
*122/1 manufacturing configuration is discontinued. For information on the improved configuration of TC1225/T700, please contact g.waldrip@toraytac-usa.com.
- T700 Unidirectional Tape
- Victrex AE™ 250 LMPAEK
- AS4 12k Unitape
NCAMP Proprietary Allowables & Specs
Material Description | Type of Material | Contact |
---|---|---|
Toray 3960 T1100G Unitape Gr 192 RC 33.5%, 0.5" Slit Tape | Thermoset | Spirit AeroSystems |
Toray 3960 T1100G UNI 0.25" Slit Tape | Thermoset | NIAR ATLAS |
Material Description | Type of Material | Contact |
---|---|---|
Toray 3960 T1100GC 24K 71E Unitape Prepreg 192gsm 33.5% RC | Thermoset | Toray |
Toray 3960 T1100GC 12K 71E PW Prepreg 196gsm 35% RC | Thermoset | Toray |
Cytec, a Syensqo company 5320-1 IM7 UNI 0.25" Slit Tape | Thermoset | NIAR ATLAS |
Toray TC1225 PAEK T700 0.25" Slit Tape | Thermoplastic | NIAR ATLAS |
Cytec, a Syensqo company APC PEKK-FC IM8 Unitape 0.25" Slit Tape | Thermoplastic | NIAR ATLAS |
Victrex AE250 LM PAEK IM7 Unitape 0.25" Slit Tape | Thermoplastic | NIAR ATLAS |
Hexcel 1078-1 HiTape IM7 0.25" Slit Tape | VARTM | NIAR ATLAS |
Renegade RM-3004 BMI Unitape | BMI | Stratolaunch |
Renegade RM-3004 BMI PW | BMI | Stratolaunch |
IHI ISAJT-K069 woven 3D orthogonal preform (Class A) | CMC | IHI |
Material Description | Type of Material |
---|---|
Cytec, a Syensqo company FM309-1M .06psf | Adhesive |
Cytec, a Syensqo company FM300-2 0.06psf | Adhesive |
Loctite EA 9394 | Adhesive |
Ti-6AL-4V, EOS M290 | AM |
Hexcel HexAM HexPEKK-100 thermoplastic powder | AM |
Evonik HERO71 Foam Core | Core |
Hexcel HexWeb® HRH-10-1/8-3.0’, NOMEX® aramid fiber Core | Core |
Axiom AX-7800-DF11-5HS3000D Satin Weave Fabric Prepreg | CMC |
Cytec, a Syensqo company APC PEKK-FC AS4 Unitape Chopped Fiber | Thermoplastic |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2190 T650 3K PW Fabric RC 37% | Thermoset |
Victrex AE 250 T-083 AS7 12k Unitape Slit Tape | Thermoplastic |
Toray TC1225 T300JB 3K 5HS Fabric | Thermoplastic |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2190 IMS65 Unitape Gr 145 RC 35% | Thermoset |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2190 IMS65 Unitape Gr 145 RC 35% 0.25” Slit Tape | Thermoset |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2750 199 2X2T T650-35 3K | Thermoset |
Hexcel M91 IM8-GP 6K ZB PW fabric | Thermoset |
Hexcel M91 IM8-GS 12K Unidirectional | Thermoset |
Hexcel FC100 ADGP370-8H 8H Fabric |
Thermoset |
Hexcel FC100 ADGP193ZB PW Fabric |
Thermoset |
Hexcel FC100 IM8 Unidirectional |
Thermoset |
Hexcel FC100 IM5 Unidirectional |
Thermoset |
Teijin Q183/IMS65 24K Unitape | Thermoset |
Teijin Q183/IMS65 2x2 Twill Fabric | Thermoset |
Cytec, a Syensqo company 5320-1 7781 Glass | Thermoset |
Toray Advanced Composites TC380 T1100GC 24K Unitape | Thermoset |
Toray Advanced Composites TC380 T800HB 6K 2x2 Twill | Thermoset |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2400 VARTM with Tenax® Dry Reinforcements, Teijin Tenax® -E DRNF Bidiagonal | VARTM |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2400 VARTM with Tenax® Dry Reinforcements, Teijin Tenax® -E DRWF UD-fabric | VARTM |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2400 VARTM with Tenax® Dry Reinforcements, Teijin Tenax® -E DRWF UD-fabric | VARTM |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2400 VARTM with Tenax® Dry Reinforcements, Teijin Tenax® -E DRNF Biaxial | VARTM |
Cytec, a Syensqo company EP2400 VARTM with Tenax® Dry Reinforcements, Teijin Tenax® -E DRNF Bidiagonal | VARTM |
How do we get involved?
- Interested in qualifying a material system or manufacturing test panels?
Contact Royal Lovingfoss at rlovingfoss@niar.wichita.edu or (316) 978-5317. - Interested in reviewing process reports before approval?
Sign up on the NCAMP portal. - Interested in receiving NCAMP Newsletters for new materials and updates?
Sign up on the NCAMP portal. - Want to see the NCAMP-approved material systems?
Visit the Allowables & Specs tab below.
FAA & EASA Memorandum
FAA Memorandum
EASA Memorandum
NCAMP Operating Procedure Documents
NSP 100 NCAMP Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
NSP 110 Operating Procedures and Bylaws for NCAMP Regulatory Governing Board (RGB)
NSP 120 Operating Procedures and Bylaws for NCAMP Manufacturers Advisory Board (MAB)
NSP 130 Operating Procedures and Bylaws for NCAMP Suppliers Avisory Board (SAB)
NCAMP Process Control Documents
NRP 101 Prepreg PCD Preparation & Maintenance Guide
NRP 102 Polyacrylonitrile-Based Carbon Fiber Process Control Document (PCD) Preparation
and Mantenance Guide
NCAMP Authorized Engineering Representative (AER)
NQP 200 Application Form
NCAMP Authorized Inspection Representative (AIR)
NQP 100 Application Form
NCAMP Engineering Acceptance
Form 289-3
289-3 Instruction Guide
NCAMP Request for Varification (RIV)
Form 168-10
168-10 Instruction Guide
NCAMP Inspection Verification Record
Form 168-1
168-1 Instruction Guide
Additional Documents
PMC Data Collection
HYpothesis Testing of EQuivalence (HYTEQ)
Asymptotical Distributions, Parameters and Coverage Probabilities of Tolerance Limits (2007) by Xiaomi Hu
Simulation of Different Acceptance Criteria (2006) by Beth Clarkson, Ph.D.
Deriving Composite Lamina Properties from Laminate Properties Using Classical Lamination Theory and Failure Criteria (2005) by Yeow Ng
Simulation Programs (for educational purposes only)
For the simulation programs below, mu is the population average, sigma is the population standard deviation, n is the sample size for basis value calculations and N is the number of basis value calculations
- K Factor Calculator
- B-Basis Distribution Simulator (Note the definition of B-Basis: A 95 % lower confidence bound on the 10th percentile of a specified population)
- Parameters for A and B-Basis
NCAMP in the News
- NCAMP finalizes Hexcel Hexply qualifications and allowables, Composites World, July 11, 2011
- Shared databases will expand composites use, in aerospace and beyond, High Performance Composites, July 1, 2011
- NCAMP releases first material property data report, High Performance Composites, August 25, 2011
- Out-of-autoclave prepregs: Hype or revolution?, High-Performance Composites, January 1, 2011
- News Briefs, Composites World, November 17, 2009
- NCAMP Updates composites material qualification efforts, Composites World, August 31, 2009
- Shared Composite Materials Databases, High-Performance Composites, October 20, 2008
- USAF to provide funding for polyimide prepreg qualifications, Composites World, May 6, 2008
- Shared material databases: The next chapter, High Performance Composites, May 1, 2005
- AAR
- Air Force Research Laboratory
- Airbus
- Albany Engineered Composites
- Army Research Lab
- ASTM International
- Orbital ATK
- B/E Aerospace
- Bell Helicopter Textron
- Boeing Helicopter
- Bombardier
- Burnham Composites
- Cessna Aircraft Company
- Cirrus Design Corporation
- Composite Material Handbook 17
- Comtek Advanced Structures
- Cytec
- Diamond Aircraft
- Embraer
- Epic Aircraft
- FAA
- GE Aviation
- General Atomics
- GKN Aerospace
- UTC Aerospace Systems
- Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation
- Gurit
- Henkel
- Hexcel Corporation
- Israel Aerospace Industries
- J.D. Lincoln
- Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency
- Kaneka Corporation
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries
- Korea Aerospace Industries, Ltd.
- Lockheed Martin
- Magellan Aerospace Corporation
- Maverick Corporation
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
- Nadcap
- Naval Air Systems Command (Navair)
- Nelcote Advanced Composite Prepregs
- Newport Corporation
- Northrop Grumman Corporation
- Performance Review Institute
- Piper Aircraft
- Pratt & Whitney
- Quickstep Technologies
- Renegade Materials Corporation
- SAE International
- Scaled Composites
- Sikorsky Aircraft
- Spirit AeroSystems
- Subaru
- TenCate Advanced Composites
- Teijin
- The Nordam Group
- Toray Composites America
- Toyota Aircraft
- Vought Aircraft Industries
AGATE History
AGATE Shared Database Process
In recent years, NASA, industry and the FAA have worked together to help the aviation
industry deliver more aircraft in less time by sharing central material qualification
databases. This concept was first tested with the databases formed through the Advanced
General Aviation Transport Experiments (AGATE), formed by NASA in 1995 and led by
NIAR at WSU. The purpose of AGATE was to develop affordable new technology, industry
standards and certification methods for general aviation aircraft.
Before AGATE, the traditional approach to qualifying materials meant individual companies used "customized" qualification programs, leading to detailed and expensive procedures for each company. Costs increased further as other procedures were established for structural testing, manufacturing control and repair. As a result, most programs were limited to using materials previously qualified for other programs, which led to using older, outdated material and not taking advantage of the latest technology and material advances in the industry.
With the creation of AGATE, the AGATE Shared Database Process was formed. The shared databases created using the AGATE process allowed a manufacturer to select a pre-approved composite material system to fabricate parts through a smaller subset of testing for a specific application (known as equivalency). The materials accepted into these shared databases required that the raw materials be manufactured in accordance with process control documents and material specifications, which impose control of the key physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the material.
Through the joint collaboration of two government agencies, NASA and FAA, AGATE was able to reduce the time required for certification of new composite materials by a factor of four and the cost of certification by a factor of 10. The timeline below highlights the progress AGATE made, leading to NCAMP.
Allowables & Specs
All the documents in this page have been reviewed and approved by NCAMP members through the NCAMP Portal. For information regarding the acceptability of NCAMP-published allowables and specifications, please refer to the the FAA Policy Memorandum AIR100-2010-120-003 and EASA Certification Memorandum CM-S-004.
Additive Manufacturing Materials
Thermoset Materials
- Cytec, a Syensqo company 5320-1
- Cytec, a Syensqo company MTM45-1
- Hexcel 8552
- Newport NCT4708
- Toray (formerly TenCate) BT250E-6
- Toray (formerly TenCate) TC250
- Renegade RM-2014
- Cytec, a Syensqo company 5320-1 Repair
Thermoplastic Materials
- Toray (formerly TenCate) TC1225 (Discontinued*)
-
*122/1 manufacturing configuration is discontinued. For information on the improved configuration of TC1225/T700, please contact g.waldrip@toraytac-usa.com.
-
- Teijin Tenax-E TPWF/TPCL PEEK
- Victrex AE™ 250 LMPAEK