MSN-C Special Topic: Composites 2026

Apr 16, 2026, 8:00 AM → Apr 17, 2026, 4:00 PM America/New_York

Dicovery A/B (Wright State University, Dayton, OH)

The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Materials Solutions Network at CHESS (MSN-C), a partnership between the AFRL and Cornell University, are hosting a targeted workshop bringing together scientists from industry, academia, DoD and other government-based laboratories with interests and challenges related to ceramic and polymer matrix composites. The workshop will highlight the capabilities, expertise, and experimental infrastructure of MSN-C beamlines and other networked resources, with a focus on leveraging synchrotron X-ray radiation to address critical structure–processing–performance challenges relevant to industry. Through technical presentations and discussion, participants will explore opportunities for collaborative research,  practical challenges, and targeted capability development enabled by the AFRL–Cornell partnership.

 

Note: Participation is by invitation only from an organizer or one of their delegates. Please direct inquiries to msnc@cornell.edu.

Thu, April 16

8:00 AM → 8:30 AM Checkin

8:30 AM → 10:05 AM Session 1: Resources

This session will focus on capabilities for composites research provided by MSN-C, a synchrotron-based facility at Cornell University, and nMat (formerly nSoft), a NIST-based public-private consortium.

8:30 AM AFRL Welcome - Rich Vaia, AFRL

8:40 AM CHESS Welcome - Joel Brock, Cornell University

JoelBrock_CHESS_Welcome_Composites2026.pptx

8:50 AM The Materials Solutions Network at CHESS (MSN-C) - Arthur Woll, Cornell

ArthurWoll_MSNC_Overview_Composites2026.pptx

9:00 AM The Structural Materials Beamline at MSN-C - Kelly Nygren, Cornell

KellyNygren_SMB_Overview_Composites2026.pdf

9:15 AM The Functional Materials Beamlines at MSN-C - Kirt Page, AV Inc.

KirtPage_FMB_Overview_Composites2026.pptx

9:30 AM In-Situ Characterization during Mechanical Testing at MSN-C - Kelly Nygren, Cornell

KellyNygren_InSituMechanicalTesting_Composites2026.pdf

9:40 AM The nSoft Consortium and NCNR at NIST - Jon Seppala, NIST

10:05 AM → 10:30 AM Break

10:30 AM → 12:00 PM Session 2: Challenges & Needs - DoD

10:30 AM Overview of Polymer Matrix Composites research at AFRL, Hilmar Koerner, AFRL

11:00 AM Overview of Ceramic Matrix Composites research at AFRL, Mathew Schey, AFRL

11:30 AM Regional Networks - Innovation in Partnership and Collaboration, John Luginsland, AFRL

12:00 PM → 1:00 PM LUNCH - Day 1: Box Lunch Optional

1:00 PM → 3:00 PM Session 3

1:00 PM Ceramic Matrix Composites -- Mike Sangid, Purdue

1:30 PM Polymer Matrix Compsoites -- Xiaoshi Zhang, Penn State Behrend

2:00 PM 3D Printing and Processing of High Perfmance PMCs at FMB - Kirt Page (AV Inc) and Mia Carrola, AFRL

2:30 PM Panel Discussion: Research Resources for Industry and DoW

4:00 PM → 6:00 PM Informal Happy Hour - Wandering Griffin Brewery

Fri, April 17

9:00 AM → 10:05 AM Session 4 - Industry Perspectives, Insights, and Needs

9:00 AM Day 2 Welcome

9:05 AM Affordable and Agile Composite AM Structures - Dennis Butcher, AFRL

9:20 AM Industry Perspective on Synchrotron Tomography of CMC - Aly Badran, GE Aerospace

9:35 AM Faciliting Industry Access to MSN-C- Arthur Woll, Cornell

ArthurWoll_IndustryAccess_Composites2026.pptx

9:45 AM Distribution A Model Materials Discussion - Matt Schey, AFRL

10:05 AM → 10:30 AM BREAK

10:30 AM → 12:00 PM Session 5 - Practical Challenges; Opportunities, and Discussion: Workshop Breakout Sessions & Discussion

10:30 AM Breakout Session

11:20 AM Breakout Lead Report-Outs; Discussion

11:40 AM Summary DIscussion; Workshop Close-Out

12:00 PM → 1:00 PM LUNCH -Day 2

1:00 PM → 3:30 PM Reserved for Closed Sessions with Industry