The Air Force and a small business partner are pushing the boundaries of high-temperature material production to cut fuel costs and boost the service life of aircraft.

Moraine, Ohio-based PROOF Research is working with Air Force Research Laboratory to further computationally derived materials, manufacturing and engineering solutions, which includes the development of high-temperature polymer matrix composites as a replacement for titanium.

Also known as PMCs, the advanced materials can trim the weight of some parts and systems in aircraft by as much as 40 percent - resulting in annual fuel savings of hundreds of dollars per kilogram of titanium replaced – while offering increased service life and improved fatigue resistance.