JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #113 - June 2017 - 4

OPlNlON high-temperature composites

Composites Horizons

"We have historically been blessed
with a solid and loyal workforce"
Composite Horizons Incorporated (CHI) is a leading
innovator and producer of composite parts for diverse
industries. Established in 1974, , CHI has become a
key supplier of aircraft components and critical medical
parts. Tim Shumate gives us his vision on composites
in aerospace.

Tim
Shumate:
Composites
Horizons, LLC, located in Covina,
California (Los Angeles County),
specializes in high temperature
composite structures and assemblies
primarily serving the aerospace engine,
industrial and medical markets.
Founded in 1974 the company employs
approximatley 240 people and operates
a 170,000 sf (1,700 sq m) facility. Since
its beginning, Composites Horizons has
developed specific tooling and processing
expertise related to the manufacture
of high temperature polymer matrix
composites, primarily based on carbon
fiber reinforcements and resins such as
phenolic, bismaelimide and polyimide.
Many of the company's products are
used by engine manufactures such as
General Electric and Pratt & Whitney
for applications on both commercial and
military engines. These applications and
products include engine inner and outer
by pass ducts, exhaust components,
inlet ducts, hot air bleed ducts, engine
exhaust flaps and engine nacelle blocker
doors. In the medical market, we
supply composite components used
in x-ray equipment and surgical tables
where their combinatio of structural
performance, x-ray transmisson and

4

Tim ShumaTe
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Composites Horizons

astetic qualities are valued.
It was through Composites Horizons
relationship with General Electric that
the company first became involved with
ceramic matrix composites (CMC).
The CMC material manufactured by
Composites Horizons is known as an
"Oxide - Oxide" CMC or "Ox-Ox"
and consists of an alumina oxide fiber
reinforcement with a alumina oxide or
alumina oxide- silicate matrix. These
materials, which have a density similar
to aluminum, are capable of operating at
temperatures up to 1,050°C.
As a small company we have also
always been a bit more flexible to
work with which has also been an
asset.

"

JEC Composites Magazine: Can you tell us
about Composites Horizons, its areas of
expertise and key customers? Where do
medical applications stand next to your
main activity which is aeronautics?

with

Today Composites Horizons manufactures several components used
as part of the exhaust system of the
General Electric Passport 20 engine,
which is used on Bombardier's Global
7000 and 8000 business aircraft using a
GE developed material based on 3M's
Nextel alumina oxide ceramic fiber. To
support other applications, Composites
Horizons has developed its own Ox-Ox
CMC material. This material is based on
the same 3M Nextel fibers but utilizes
a matrix developed by Composites
Horizons that we intend to make
available to the market.

jec composites magazine / No113 June 2017

JCM: What were the key steps in your
company's development? What role did
composites play in this development?

T. S.: The company has always been
based on manufacturing composite
components and assemblies. One key
is we have historically been blessed with
a solid and loyal workforce. Next was
selecting to focus on the high temperature
materials, which represented a greater
manufacturing challenge than the more
common epoxy materials. This resulted
in our company developing a high level of
expertise and competency in tooling and
processing methods for these materials.
Finally, we have always worked closely
with our main customers to develop
their trust in that expertise. As a small
company we have also always been a bit
more flexible to work with which has
also been an asset.
JCM: What is the role of Composites
Horizons or how does it fit in with PCC
following your acquisition by the group in
2015?

T. S.: PCC is a large player in the
aerospace and industrial power
generation engine market. As high
temperature composites have begun
to find their way in to the engine and
exhaust systems PCC was looking for,
and found in Composites Horizons, a
footprint in that market.
JCM: What characteristics do ceramic
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #113 - June 2017
