Magnolia Advanced Materials, Inc., a custom formulator of high-performance epoxy systems for aerospace, defence and industrial applications, today announced they have formed a global research and development department to accelerate the engineering of high-performance epoxies for the electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) market. Magnolia has assembled some of the highest-calibre chemists in the world to focus on new products for this market.

Magnolia has decades of experience with the traditional vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) segment, primarily with heavy duty commercial-industrial applications. These applications used petrol fuel turboshaft engines that are more forgiving for weight and distance. Modern eVTOL motors are more sensitive to weight and distance and demand a significantly higher strength-to-weight ratio consideration.

Already, Magnolia's R&D chemists have formulated eVTOL epoxy products that deliver the high strength-to-weight ratios and fast cure times that eVTOL manufacturers need to achieve extended battery-powered range and faster production times. Magnolia chemists also are focused on refining a complete advanced materials portfolio that will include the full range of structural and non-structural bonded joint applications needed throughout composite-intensive airframes.

"Modern eVTOL aircraft must meet the same certification standards necessary for traditional aerospace applications," said Magnolia President and CEO Wayne Tanner. "Magnolia has a 70-year history of collaborating with aerospace customers to address new challenges in an expeditious and value-oriented way. Establishing an R&D department focused on eVTOL solutions is another way we are carrying that tradition forward."