What material makes up much of the Airbus A350’s airframe?

Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer makes up much of the Airbus A350’s airframe.

Airbus designed the A350 with a composite-intensive structure, including composite fuselage panels and wings. Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer combines strong carbon fibres with a polymer resin, allowing designers to reduce structural weight while maintaining strength and resistance to corrosion.

The A350 is not made entirely from composites. Aluminium-lithium alloys, titanium and other materials are also used in different structural and systems components. Its extensive composite construction is one reason the A350 is often grouped with newer efficient wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787. The material choice is distinct from the aircraft’s engines, cabin systems and interior furnishings, which use many other materials.