The Composite Materials Department maintains world-class expertise in developing novel composite structures based on integrally formed 3-D textile fiber preforms. Many of these composites are designed for aerospace applications that demand optimum thermal and mechanical performance. Key applications include actively cooled rocket nozzles, space vehicle thermal protection, polymeric composites for aircraft, microelectronic packaging, hot structures for hypersonic vehicles, and efficient turbine engine combustor components.

Our capabilities are comprehensive, ranging from design and fabrication of composite structures for specific applications to basic studies of material properties and synthesis. Advanced fabrication techniques and performance testing are integrated with unique modeling tools incorporating key aspects of reinforcement architectures. These capabilities, built over decades, allow us to address the full range of component design and manufacture, and to produce optimized composite prototypes for government, strategic, and commercial customers.