Hexcel Corporation and Specialty Materials announced a significant advancement in the development by Specialty Materials of a new high modulus carbon fiber technology using Hexcel materials. Specialty Materials’ Hy-Bor® technology pairs Hexcel’s high modulus carbon fiber with boron fiber, significantly enhancing compression strength and offering a new class of materials for airframe manufacturers and other defense applications.  

“This new 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,” said Imad Atallah, Vice President - Product Management, Fibers, Reinforcement & Matrix, Hexcel. “The technology mitigates the traditional drop in compression strength associated with high modulus fibers, providing enhanced capabilities that our Department of Defense customers are demanding for next generation platforms.”

“The new product offering ensures that American sources of high-performance composite products are maintained, broadening the applications for high modulus carbon fiber, and maintaining performance superiority in various DOD systems,” said Monica Rommel, CEO, Specialty Materials. “The selection of this new product highlights the importance of maintaining a secure source of materials for next-generation technology, and ensuring the United States keeps a technical edge above competitors and near-peer threats."