MRF Collaboration with the University of South Carolina’s McNair Aerospace Center

Materials Research Furnaces (MRF) and University of South Carolina’s McNair Aerospace Center Announce Pioneering Collaboration in Carbon-Carbon Composite Precision Processing

Allenstown, NH — Materials Research Furnaces (MRF), a global leader in high-temperature furnace technology, is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with the University of South Carolina’s McNair Aerospace Center. Together, MRF and the McNair Center are establishing a cutting-edge precision ultra-high-temperature furnace system capable of 2400°C operation. This advanced furnace system, featuring an approximately 8ft³ usable hot zone, represents a significant leap forward in materials processing technology.

This state-of-the-art furnace system is uniquely equipped to perform pyrolysis, densification, and graphitization processes for aerospace composite components and advanced ceramics. Designed with precision thermal and atmosphere environments, the furnace will support the development and enhancement of high-performance materials, including carbon-carbon, carbon-SiC, and SiC-SiC composites. These materials are critical for next-generation aerospace applications, where strength, durability, and heat resistance are paramount.

“The partnership with the McNair Aerospace Center team underscores MRF’s commitment to advancing the frontiers of materials processing,” said Chuck Miller, President, MRF. “By combining our expertise in furnace technology with the McNair Center’s leadership in aerospace innovation, we aim to drive groundbreaking advancements in composite and ceramic materials that will shape the future of the aerospace industry.”

The collaboration reflects the University of South Carolina’s dedication to fostering industry partnerships that fuel research and innovation. “This new furnace system will be a game-changer for our research and development initiatives,” said Paul Ziehl, Associate Dean for Research at the University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of

Engineering and Computing, and Director of the McNAIR Center. “It will enable us to explore novel processing techniques and optimize material properties, opening doors to transformative solutions for aerospace and beyond.”

The University of South Carolina is also partnered with Columbia, S.C.-based defense tech and software company Integer Technologies, which has been involved in the MRF furnace design. Together, the university and Integer are developing intelligent model-based tools to optimize and automate manufacturing processes related to advanced materials like composites, ceramics, and high-temperature metals critical for developing new capabilities in aerospace and defense.

The ultra-high-temperature furnace system is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the increasing demand for high-performance materials in aerospace, defense, and other advanced industries. This partnership highlights the synergy between academia and industry, showcasing how collaboration can accelerate technological progress and deliver tangible benefits to society.

About Materials Research Furnaces (MRF) MRF is a global leader in precision thermal systems essential for the production, development, and research of advanced materials. These advanced materials include carbon-carbon composites, ceramic matrix composites (CMC’s), advanced ceramics, materials for nuclear power and semiconductor applications. For decades, we have pioneered some of the world’s most innovative, customized furnace systems, with a focus on enabling the processing of materials with precision at high temperature in controlled atmospheres or vacuum.

About the University of South Carolina, McNAIR Center for Aerospace Innovation and Research Located at the University of South Carolina, the McNAIR Center is a hub for aerospace innovation, research, and education. The McNAIR Center fosters innovation and workforce development to develop engineered solutions that meet evolving needs of industry and government.