Sharkskin Technology: Improved aerodynamics in aviation
In a joint project, BASF and Lufthansa Technik have succeeded in developing a functional film that mimics the fine structure of a shark’s skin and thus optimizes aerodynamics at flow-relevant parts of the aircraft. As a result, fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions can be reduced.
The surface structure, which consists of riblets around 50 micrometers in size, imitates the properties of a shark’s skin. Covering the flow-relevant areas of the aircraft with the functional film NovaFlex SharkSkin reduces drag by around 1 percent, which in turn saves around 400 tons of kerosene and around 1,250 tons of CO2 per aircraft (long-haul passenger aircraft of the type Boeing 777-300ER) per year. Lufthansa Technik and BASF intend to systematically develop the new technology in the direction of additional aircraft types and even larger areas, so that it can support airlines around the world even more comprehensively in achieving their emission targets in the future. In initial model calculations, the sharkskin technology could even avoid CO emissions of up to three percent in its maximum expansion stage.
In a joint project, BASF and Lufthansa Technik have succeeded in developing a functional film that mimics the fine structure of a shark’s skin and thus optimizes aerodynamics at flow-relevant parts of the aircraft. As a result, ...
Lufthansa Technik equips the aircraft of its airline customers during regular maintenance layovers in the aircraft hangar. Over a period of several days, a qualified team applies the adhesive films according to a precise cutting ...
The Coatings division of BASF, headquartered in Münster/Germany, is a global expert in the development, production and marketing of innovative and sustainable automotive OEM and refinish coatings, decorative paints as well as ...
With its expertise in surfaces, the BASF team implements tailor-made solutions for its customers. With the innovative sharkskin technology, BASF, together with Lufthansa Technik, is helping airlines achieve their sustainability ...
BASF is working closely with bionic surface technologies to simulate riblets. For 15 years, the company has been researching the optimal design of riblet surfaces and implements these findings for various applications. Not only ...
Lufthansa Technik is using CFD simulations to determine how drag is reduced by means of the bionic riblet film, among other things. These provide important results, not only for the design of the pattern. This is because before ...