High-temperature polyimide and CMC composite structures
CAMX 2023: Composites Horizons LLC showcases capabilities in high-temperature composite structures and assemblies manufacturing, including polyimides and CMC.
Photo Credit: Composites Horizons
Composites Horizons LLC (Covina, Calif., U.S.), a PCC Company, is a supplier of high-temperature composite structures and assemblies for the aerospace, defense and industrial industries. Supplying customers such as GE Aviation, Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls Royce, the company offers lightweight, high-temperature structural composite solutions based on polymer matrix (polyimides) composites and oxide-based (ox-ox) ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials.
Composites Horizons currently manufactures engine, duct and exhaust structures using PMR-15, PE-4 and RM1100 fiber-reinforced polyimide materials. These materials, which are capable of long-term operation (dry Tg of up to 750°F and a wet Tg of up to 570°F), are processed at high temperatures and pressures (up to 700°F and 200+ psi). With more than 25 years of experience in the processing of polyimide materials for aerospace, Composites Horizons has developed specialized tooling, layup and cure techniques to support the design of high-temperature components and assemblies that account for the distinctive processing characteristics of these materials.
Composites Horizons has been manufacturing ox-ox CMC at its 45,000-square-foot facility since 2014. The company supports the commercialization and adoption of these products via the development, characterization and demonstration of low-cost ox-ox CMC product forms (lower cost fabric-based prepregs) and automated tape layup of low-cost ox-ox tape materials. These developments offers the potential to reduce the cost of ox-ox CMC structures by up to 50% versus structures designed using traditional fabric-based ox-ox prepregs, the company contends.
The company’s Covina, Calif., U.S., facility consists of 160,000 square feet of manufacturing space and includes high-temperature/pressure autoclaves, material-specific cleanrooms, high-temperature presses and ovens, ceramic sintering furnaces, material-specific-dedicated cleanrooms, five-axis machining, coordinate measuring machine (CMM) equipment, nondestructive inspection (NDI) and assembly areas.
Related Content
-
Bio-based SiC ceramics from wood polymer composites
Austrian research institute Wood K plus makes 95% silicon carbide ceramics more sustainable (>85% bio/recycled content), enables 3D shapes via extrusion, injection molding and 3D printing.
-
MATECH C/ZrOC composite is deployed in hypersonic aeroshells
Ultra high-temperature insulating CMC targets hypersonics, space heat shields and other demanding applications, tested up to 2760°C under extreme stagnation pressures.
-
Bombardier begins manufacture of Global 8000 business jet
Ultra-long range business jet featuring CMC-intensive engine and a range of 8,000 nautical miles is set to enter service in second half of 2025 as it remains on track for flight testing.