Specialty Materials, Inc.
Specialty Materials, Inc. (SMI) has produced advanced fibers and materials for the aerospace, defense, energy and industrial segments of the composites industries for almost 40 years. Formerly owned and operated by Textron Systems (a.k.a. AVCO Corporation), SMI is now a privately-owned small business that continues to be headquartered in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. Our company produces both boron and silicon carbide fiber by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. Boron fiber is used in resin matrix composites for primary aircraft and space structures, radiation shielding, armor, and high performance sporting goods. Silicon carbide is used in metal and ceramic composite systems, as well as other energy and industrial applications. Preforms for boron fiber include 250 oF and 350 oF epoxy resin prepreg, hybrid boron/carbon fiber prepreg (Hy-Bor®) and unidirectional woven mat. Silicon carbide fiber is also available as a unidirectional woven mat. SMI is a materials producer and does not fabricate consolidated composite forms.
