Nomex Honeycomb Core
also Nomex Honeycomb
Nomex Honeycomb Core is a structural core made from meta-aramid paper impregnated with phenolic resin and expanded into hexagonal cells, offered from 29 to 128 kg/m³ plus overexpanded (OX), Flex and HRH-327 grades.
Reference datasheet — Nomex Honeycomb Core is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the 48kgm3 condition
Nomex Honeycomb Core grades and fills
Nomex Honeycomb Core is supplied in 9 conditions, soft to hard. 48kgm3 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 9 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.8 pcf / 29 kg/m³ | Lightest common grade for lightly loaded cabin interior panels and non-structural fairings. | 1 | |||
2.0 pcf / 32 kg/m³ | Standard interior-panel core: best weight/stiffness trade for galleys, sidewalls and lightweight floors. | 1 | |||
Flex-Core | Use when the core must form a compound (double) curvature without cell buckling; slightly lower shear per unit density. | 2 | |||
Over-expanded cell | Over-expanded rectangular cells drape into single-curvature panels and raise W-direction shear at the cost of L-direction shear. | 2 | |||
HRH-327 type | Pick when service exceeds the ~180 °C phenolic limit or when very low outgassing/FST performance is specified. | 2 | |||
48kgm3Default 3.0 pcf / 48 kg/m³ | The default aerospace/marine sandwich core — good shear strength at low weight, widely stocked in 1/8 in and 3/16 in cell. | 3 | |||
4.0 pcf / 64 kg/m³ | Higher-load core for cargo floors, fittings zones and areas needing better crush resistance under bonding pressure. | 4 | |||
6.0 pcf / 96 kg/m³ | Choose where local crush, high shear or fastener bearing loads dominate (ramps, engine nacelle acoustic panels). | 7 | |||
8.0 pcf / 128 kg/m³ | Maximum-strength Nomex core for heavily loaded inserts, edge close-outs and ballistic/impact zones. | 12 |
What is Nomex Honeycomb Core?
Nomex Honeycomb Core is a structural core made from meta-aramid paper impregnated with phenolic resin and expanded into hexagonal cells, offered from 29 to 128 kg/m³ plus overexpanded (OX), Flex and HRH-327 grades. Engineers use it as the core of aramid, glass and carbon sandwich panels for its low density (48 kg/m³ typical), fire resistance, dielectric behaviour and 0.05 W/m·K thermal conductivity. It carries load only when bonded between skins, absorbs moisture if stored or left unsealed, and costs more than aluminium honeycomb, which is the usual alternative when dielectric and fire performance are not required. Nomex Honeycomb Core has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0017 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of composite grades. Nomex Honeycomb Core has a tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.377 ksi), weaker than 91% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 0.14 GPa (0.02 Msi).
What is Nomex Honeycomb Core used for?
- aircraft interior panels
- sandwich composite floors
- radomes
- lightweight structural panels
Advantages
- Lightweight — 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0017 lb/in³), better than 97% of composite grades
Limitations
- Low stiffness — 0.14 GPa (0.02 Msi), worse than 91% of composite grades
- Poor heat conductor — 0.05 W/m·K (0.0289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of composite grades
Nomex Honeycomb Core properties
Typical room-temperature values for Nomex Honeycomb Core-48kgm3; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical2
Nomex Honeycomb Core has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0017 lb/in³), lighter than 97% of composite grades.
Mechanical6
Nomex Honeycomb Core has a tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.377 ksi), weaker than 91% of composite grades. The elastic modulus is 0.14 GPa (0.02 Msi).
Thermal7
Nomex Honeycomb Core is rated for continuous service to 180°C (356 °F). It conducts heat at 0.05 W/m·K (0.0289 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 87% of composite grades.
Electrical4
Nomex Honeycomb Core has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (88/100), better than 77% of composite grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Nomex Honeycomb Core takes about 300 MJ of energy and emits 16 kg of CO₂ — more than 68% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability1
Nomex Honeycomb Core's machinability is fair (50/100, better than 69% of composite grades).
Common Calculations3
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. Nomex Honeycomb Core is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Nomex Honeycomb Core
Is Nomex Honeycomb Core easy to machine?
Cut with sharp band knife, hot-wire-free rotary blade, waterjet (dry cells must be dried) or CNC router with vacuum/ice/potting support; avoid crushing cells and deburr fuzz before bonding.
Can Nomex Honeycomb Core be welded?
Not weldable — cores are joined by film adhesive splicing, foaming adhesive edge splices or potting compound at inserts.
Can Nomex Honeycomb Core be formed, bent or molded?
Standard hex core takes single curvature only; use OX or Flex-Core for tighter/compound curves, and heat-form or pre-crush cores before co-curing skins.
Nomex Honeycomb Core chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| meta-aramid paper (poly-m-phenylene isopNomex T-412 type calendered paper substrate | 45 – 65 | 55 |
| node adhesive (epoxy/phenolic)printed node lines bonding the paper webs | 1 – 4 | 2 |
| phenolic resin coatingmultiple dip-and-cure coats; sets density and strength | ≥ 35 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Nomex Honeycomb Core?
Edges and fastener zones are potted with epoxy syntactic; cores must be kept dry (bagged, dried before bonding) since absorbed moisture blows the bondline during cure.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Nomex Honeycomb Core in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Nomex Honeycomb
How much does Nomex Honeycomb Core cost?
Nomex Honeycomb Core is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Nomex Honeycomb Core — frequently asked
What is Nomex Honeycomb Core used for?
Nomex Honeycomb Core is typically used for aircraft interior panels, sandwich composite floors, radomes and lightweight structural panels. In short: dielectric non-metallic core; fire-resistant sandwich core; 29–128 kg/m³ range.
What is the tensile strength of Nomex Honeycomb Core?
Nomex Honeycomb Core has a typical tensile strength of 3 MPa (0.377 ksi) — weaker than 91% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 9 listed tempers.
Is Nomex Honeycomb Core easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (50/100, better than 69% of composite grades). Cut with sharp band knife, hot-wire-free rotary blade, waterjet (dry cells must be dried) or CNC router with vacuum/ice/potting support; avoid crushing cells and deburr fuzz before bonding.
Can Nomex Honeycomb Core be welded?
Not weldable — cores are joined by film adhesive splicing, foaming adhesive edge splices or potting compound at inserts.
What surface finishes work on Nomex Honeycomb Core?
Edges and fastener zones are potted with epoxy syntactic; cores must be kept dry (bagged, dried before bonding) since absorbed moisture blows the bondline during cure.
Can Nomex Honeycomb Core be formed, bent or molded?
Standard hex core takes single curvature only; use OX or Flex-Core for tighter/compound curves, and heat-form or pre-crush cores before co-curing skins.
What is the maximum service temperature of Nomex Honeycomb Core?
Nomex Honeycomb Core is rated for continuous use to about 180°C (356 °F), and briefly to 220°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Nomex Honeycomb Core cost?
Nomex Honeycomb Core is a high-cost composite ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- HexWeb HRH-10 Aramid Fibre/Phenolic Honeycomb Product Data — Hexcel (2020)
- Cormaster Aramid Honeycomb C1 Series — Schütz / Euro-Composites (2021)
- ASTM C365 / C273 / C297 — Honeycomb core flatwise compression, shear and flatwise tension — ASTM (2016)
- MIL-HDBK-23 / CMH-17 Vol.6 Sandwich Structures — DoD / CMH-17 (2013)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.