ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ

Hexcel Corp. (Stamford, Conn., U.S.) and Specialty Materials Inc. (Lowell, Mass., U.S.) have announced a novel fiber reinforcement that pairs Specialty Materials’ Hy-Bor boron fiber with Hexcel’s high modulus (HM) carbon fiber. Together, these technologies enhance compression strength, offering a new class of materials for airframe manufacturers and other defense applications.

“This material offers substantial weight savings and design flexibility, opening up a range of applications for commercial aviation, as well as for space and defense applications, including aircraft, satellites and missile systems,” says Imad Atallah, vice president – product management, fibers, reinforcement and matrix, Hexcel. “The technology mitigates the traditional drop in compression strength associated with HM fibers, providing enhanced capabilities that our Department of Defense [DOD] customers are demanding for next-generation platforms.”

According to Monica Rommel, CEO of Specialty Materials, the composite product broadens the application potential for HM carbon fiber while maintaining high performance in DOD systems.

Under a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program contract from the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), Specialty Materials developed the Hy-Bor hybridized unidirectional prepreg by infusing boron fiber with HexTow HM63 carbon fiber produced by Hexcel. According to DLA, the new HM high-compression material resulted in more than two times the improvement in zero-degree compression strength, open-hole compression strength and flexural strength when compared to a baseline carbon fiber-only composite of similar fiber volume.

DLA has now awarded Specialty Materials a Phase II SBIR contract to advance HM Hy-Bor composite technology. The new funding will drive optimization of this prepreg material, focusing on delivering maximum performance at minimum cost. Key developments will enhance its compatibility with both manual layup and automated fiber placement manufacturing processes.