The Advanced Composites Institute is a highly respected university and industry applied research asset focused on pioneering transformational composite technologies in a variety of critical sectors. The Institute is equipped and positioned to support disruptive, transdisciplinary programs that address fundamental upstream and broader downstream needs in aerospace, civil, military, energy, automotive and other crucial emerging markets. The ACI is acutely attentive to genuine satisfaction gaps, trends and drivers in target markets and strategically invests in capabilities and expertise that align with acknowledged real-word problems. The ACI employs world-renowned experts in composite technologies and is focused on sustainable organic growth in both capabilities and expertise.
Statement of Goals
- Accelerate technology transition by moving advanced materials and manufacturing concepts from early-stage research to validated, production-representative demonstrations.
- Reduce manufacturing risk for partners through rapid prototyping, tooling development, manufacturability studies, inspection, testing, and low-rate initial production support.
- Develop scalable, high-rate composite manufacturing processes for aerospace, defense, mobility, marine, energy, and other critical markets.
- Advance next-generation composite structures through automated stitching, through-thickness reinforcement, resin infusion, additive tooling, high-temperature materials, and damage-tolerant design approaches.
- Support national defense and industrial resilience by providing secure, quality-driven, U.S.-based manufacturing development capabilities for mission-critical structures and systems.
- Deliver workforce pipelines alongside technology solutions through the Mississippi Advanced Composites Training Center, preparing technicians, engineers, students, and incumbent workers for advanced manufacturing environments.
- Create transferable manufacturing packages that include demonstrated processes, validated hardware, documentation, training, and implementation support for partner adoption.
Technical Focus Areas
ACI’s technical focus areas reflect our role as an industry-scale prototyping, demonstration, and manufacturing transition partner for advanced composites and next-generation materials.
- High-Rate, Low-Cost Composite Manufacturing
Development and demonstration of resin transfer molding (RTM), low-pressure RTM (LP-RTM), and resin infusion processes for scalable, repeatable production of aerospace, defense, and industrial structures. - Automated Stitching & Z-Axis Reinforced Composites
Through-thickness reinforced composite architectures enabled by advanced robotic stitching technologies, improving damage tolerance, impact resistance, and structural performance while enabling lighter-weight designs. - Rapid Tooling & Additive Manufacturing
Thermoset and thermoplastic additive manufacturing for rapid tooling, near-net molds, and manufacturing aids that accelerate process development, iteration, and scale-up. - Uncrewed Systems (UxS) & Attritable Platforms
Composite structures and manufacturing solutions for air, land, surface, and subsurface uncrewed systems, including airframes, housings, control surfaces, and mission-adaptive structures. - Extreme-Environment & Defense Materials
High-temperature and damage-tolerant composite structures for defense, hypersonic, thermal protection, and other demanding operational environments. - Reverse Engineering, Obsolescence & Sustainment
Rapid development of replacement components, tooling, and manufacturing processes for legacy systems and hard-to-source parts across multiple industries. - Composite Assembly & Manufacturing Readiness
Production-representative fabrication, joining, and assembly processes, including manufacturability validation and support for low-rate initial production (LRIP) and technology transition. - Inspection, Testing & Validation
Non-destructive inspection (NDI), dimensional metrology, structural testing, and materials/process validation to support qualification, certification pathways, and manufacturing readiness. - Workforce Development & Advanced Manufacturing Training
Integrated training programs through the Mississippi Advanced Composites (MAC) Training Center, delivering hands-on, industry-relevant education for technicians, engineers, students, and incumbent workforce.
Markets Served
ACI supports a broad range of industries requiring high-performance materials, scalable manufacturing processes, and rapid technology transition.
- Aerospace
- Defense & National Security
- Uncrewed Systems (Air, Land, Surface, Subsurface)
- Ground Vehicles & Mobility
- Marine & Subsurface Systems
- Energy & Industrial Applications
- Extreme-Environment & Hypersonic Systems
- Sustainment & Obsolescence Solutions
Specialized Capabilities & Experience
In addition to core focus areas, ACI maintains deep technical experience and legacy program knowledge that support specialized applications and partner needs.
- Aerospace Program Experience
Staff experience supporting major commercial and defense aerospace platforms, including fixed-wing, rotorcraft, and advanced air mobility systems. - Stitched Resin Infusion & Advanced Composite Architectures
Long-standing leadership in stitched and unstitched resin infusion processes, including the development of damage-tolerant composite structures using through-thickness reinforcement. - Fire, Environmental & Material Behavior Analysis
Evaluation of composite performance under fire exposure, environmental conditions, and alternative fuels, supporting aerospace and defense material validation. - Sustainment & Transition Support
Development and transfer of manufacturing processes, tooling, and documentation to support partner production environments and long-term operational use. - Defense & Secure Manufacturing Readiness
We support defense-aligned manufacturing development through export-controlled facilities, aerospace quality systems, secure project practices, and a roadmap for additional secure manufacturing compliance as sponsor requirements evolve.