Material search

[EricH]

The idea is to coat an R/C aircraft's landing gear with this material.

My Aero team uses a material now (sorry, I don't know what it's called) that has a tendency to tear off the wheels under high-stress situations like landing with 32 lbs aboard an 8 lb plane. It sticks together in a tire shape, but leaves the wheel. After two near-DQs today, we're looking for something better.

We know about carbon fiber. The problem is, we'd need a LOT of spares--crash landings can take their toll.

[Peter Matteson]

Try using PEEK (poly-etheretherketone). It's an extremely crystaline plastic and you should be able to machine it to shape easily. It's used as a bearing material and in many aerospace components.

If you design it properly out of PEEK it will take the load.