Britain turns up the heat on homegrown ceramics for hypersonic missiles

Britain has taken the first steps towards producing its own ultrahigh temperature materials, regarded as vital for applications including hypersonic vehicles, space, and advanced propulsion systems.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) says it invested in Cross Manufacturing Ltd, based in Bath and Wiltshire, to build the UK's first pilot-scale end-to-end manufacturing process for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs).

CMCs are a composite material, one in which the fibers are ceramic or carbon, embedded in a ceramic matrix. They are created to overcome the brittleness of traditional ceramics, while providing high-temperature resistance, light weight, and high strength.

According to DSTL, they are capable of withstanding temperatures exceeding 1,000°C (1,832°F), and unlike metals, they hold their strength and shape under extreme heat and stress.

Their characteristics make them suitable for a variety of uses where toughness and the ability to withstand high temperatures are key, such ...