How to use Aircraft Aluminum Honeycomb?

[billjustbill]

I have two new sections of aircraft aluminum honeycomb. They measure: 4" thick by 40" wide and 8ft. long. Any way to find out how much they are worth?

They seem too good to be sold for scrap. How would you use them?

Any idea or website to use them as the absorber plate for solar panels?

Thanks for your ideas,
Bill

 

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[Old Dog]

Got any photos?
include something for size reference.

Thom

 

[billjustbill]

Thom,

No photos, sorry. It's a Honeycomb that has hollow openings about 1/4" in diameter. Looks just like honey bee honeycomb, except it 4" thick.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Old Dog]

The only suggestion I have is to try making a cooling system for something with it, you could put coils between the pieces if they are big enough and the honeycomb would act as a heat displacment system. get a bit of air moving over the honeycomb and that patern would be optimal.

Otherwise scrap the stuff,
...or keep it around as a conversation piece.

it's yours do what you want with it.

Good luck

 

[Jsayre1234]

Sell it in the materials section of craigslist.

 

[bluecat]

I worked on Blackhawk helicopters while I was in the Army for 16 years. Most honeycomb is composite (fiber or kevlar) in the center. It probably wouldn't be worth much if anything for scrap, but would be quite expensive to buy it new.
There should be some numbers on it somewhere to identify what type and the strength of the honeycomb. I would search the part numbers on the internet to try to find the actual use for the type that you have. I would then recommend going to a local county or regional airport to talk to some of the mechanics as well. That might be the best way to locate a potential buyer.

 

[supergenius]

I work in composites. Actually, a lot of HC core is Al (5052 or 5056). It's probably worth more to someone as a raw material to make a CF HC sandwich panel than it would be as scrap. 4" thick is pretty thick, though. Someone would most likely have to slice it down to .25" to .5" for HC sandwich panel core. There is a market for it, I just don't know how you would find it (other than Craigslist or Ebay).

 

[billjustbill]

Thanks, fellows, for the good ideas and info. I'll try those this week.
Bill

 

[rmptr]

Just about EVERY aircraft part is certain and specific.

Swapping out parts is NOT like changing a fender on a chevy.

The paper trail of a part is just as important as the part itself.

It would be difficult to sell an un-certified part to anyone.

and alternate uses? Most aircraft stuff is in such unique shapes it's not good for anything else.

Neat looking parts, though...

Best

 

[supergenius]

But Al HC core is a raw material. It's like saying you have sheet steel or Ti plate. It doesn't get a trace code until it gets built into HW usually.

 

[2muchstuff]

I have seen Al. honeycomb used as a backer/support for those CNC Laser cutter outers. Epilog laser units use them.