Products > High Temperature Composites

High Temperature Composites

Advanced CMC Systems up to 4500°F

The Advanced Composite Systems group at PSI develops and fabricates high temperature, high performance C/SiC ceramic matrix composite systems and hardware with available service temperatures up to 4500°F

For the past 20 years, the Advanced Composites group has been dedicated to the development of advanced, high temperature Carbon/ Silicon Carbide (C/SiC) ceramic matrix composite systems (CMCs) and producing state of the possible demonstrations.

We offer two main CMC materials systems: PSC-10, our baseline C/SiC composite with service temperatures up to 3000°F and UHT-21, our refractory modified system with service temperatures up to 4500°F. These systems are available in a variety of product forms including hybrid composites that combines the best of both materials systems without sacrificing thermal performance, weight-savings, or cost.

For production of hardware from our materials systems, we offer a number of unique manufacturing capabilities such as braiding pre-preg for fabrication of composite preforms, Direct insertion of 3D reinforcement, and Flexible CMC thermal protection systems.

Other available offerings from our group include a castable, chopped fiber composite system and CVD services for coating fibers, fabrics, and components.

PSI Products

High Temperature Composites

PSC-10

Baseline C/SiC CMCs with service temps up to 3000°F

UHT-21

Refractory-modified C/SiC CMCs with service temps up to 5000°F

Hybrid Composite Systems

Co-fabrication of PSC-10 and UHT-21 to save weight and cost without loss of performance.

Castable, Chopped Fiber Composites

Low-cost, castable C/SiC alternative to our laminated composites

Pre-preg Braiding of Organic Composites

Rapid fabrication of organic preforms via braiding of woven pre-preg tapes

Direct Z-pin Insertion

Z-directional reinforcement of laminated composites without loss of properties in x-y plane

Flexible Thermal Protection Systems

Thin, stackable CMC sheets with bend radii as small as 3.5”

Chemical Vapor Deposition

Coating application to fibers and fabrics

Customers for our high performance materials systems include:

PSI’s Composite manufacturing organization is comprised of highly trained and experienced technical staff who are focused on the customer’s needs. At our foundation is a culture of lean and data-driven manufacturing principles. This foundation allows us to rapidly manufacture and evaluate new processes or products. We embrace technical manufacturing challenges and look forward to helping you advance your products capabilities.

Aerospace grade material forms and process control
Advanced State-of-the-Art Pre-preg Braiding Manufacturing Systems and Processes
Direct Insertion of 3D reinforcement

Manufacturing Capabilities / Facilities

Production occurs in our 10,000 sq. ft. facility in Wilmington, MA. Our facilities currently include ovens and atmospheric furnaces with temperature capabilities up to 3100°F, a 450°F and 150 PSI autoclave, vacuum infiltration capabilities, and a designated 2200 sq.ft environmentally controlled room for hand layup and braiding. On-site evaluation capabilities include laser machining and testing, Mechanical Testing, Microscopy, and UT scanning. We also have an in-house machine shop to serve development and production needs.

Advanced Development & Testing

PSI has an Instron 1125 with a 250lb, 1000 lb, and 25,000lb as well as a biaxial extensometer. This equipment provides the capability to perform mechanical testing to determine properties such as tensile strength and modulus, compressive strength, flexure strength, interlaminar sheer strength, and interlaminar tensile strength. ACS performs these tests regularly as a way to develop material properties and perform quality control on processes performed.