About
As defense and space missions push the boundaries of performance, the demand for advanced materials that can endure extreme environments and conditions continues to grow. The latest installment of CW Tech Days, CompositesWorld’s online industry education series, explores the latest developments in high-temperature composite materials, with a focus on lightweight, thermally stable solutions designed to meet the rigorous requirements of modern aerospace and defense systems.

CW Tech Days: High-Temperature Composite Solutions for Defense and Space Applications will take place Oct. 16, 2025. Presentations will include insights into how next-generation composites are shaping the future of defense and space technologies.

You can learn more about the event schedule and sessions here: https://www.compositesworld.com/kc/cw-tech-days-high-temp
When
Thursday, October 16, 2025 · 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (US & Canada) (GMT -4:00)
Agenda
  • Carbeon C/C-SiC: A scalable, cost-effective ceramic matrix composite for high-temperature applications
  • Novel slurry infusion for CMCs
  • High temperature materials and structures for re-entry and hypersonic systems
  • Bridging the thermal performance and cost gap between CFRPs and CMCs
  • Phthalonitrile composites for carbon/carbon and ablative thermal protection
Presenters
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Rahul Shirke
Founder and CEO, Arceon
Rahul Shirke is an accomplished aerospace structures and materials engineer (MSc, TU Delft) turned entrepreneur, with 7+ years of entrepreneurial experience in building a deeptech materials company for the space and defense sector. As founder and CEO of Arceon B.V., he’s driven the development of advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials capable of withstanding the most extreme environments.
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Dr. Vito Leisner
DLR/Fox Composites
With more than 10 years experience at the German aerospace center – DLR, Dr. Vito Leisner is working to found a spin-off project that specializes in the development and manufacturing of oxide-based ceramic matrix composites (CMC).
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Mario De Stefano Fumo
Deputy Head - Space Materials and Hot Structures Unit, CIRA
Dr. Mario De Stefano Fumo is a senior researcher at the Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) and serves as the deputy of the space materials and hot structures unit within the space directorate. His work includes the management of R&D projects focused on high-temperature materials and structures and his work includes overseeing the development and qualification of advanced thermal protection systems (TPS) for space re-entry and hypersonic vehicles.

Presently, he is the system and technology manager of the Ceramic TPS of Space Rider, the reusable re-entry vehicle funded by the European Space Agency (ESA). He holds both a masters and doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Naples.
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Darren Friberg
VP Business Development, Pyromeral Technology
Darren Friberg is leading the introduction of Pyromeral’s high-temperature CMCs to the US aerospace and defense market, managing business development, strategy, and production operations. Friberg has more than 35 years of industry experience including aerospace engineering, composite manufacturing, new product development and leading business growth.

He is also an inventor with two patents: one for an aerodynamic drag-reduction device, and another for a fireproof air-cargo pallet cover designed to contain lithium-ion battery fires and prevent their spread within the aircraft cargo hold.
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Joseph Severino
Principal Engineer - C/C, TPS, Cambium USA
Joseph Severino is a scientist and leader specialized in structural polymer and composite materials for space and other extreme environments. He is author to over a dozen peer reviewed journal publications examining the interrelationship between materials, manufacturing, processing and performance. He has served as a subject matter expert for nearly a decade and believes in transferring knowledge to help teams grow independently to solve materials problems.
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William Carty
CTO, MRF Furnaces
William Carty taught ceramic engineering at Alfred University from 1993-2020. He is now the chief technology officer for Materials Research Furnaces in Allenstown, New Hampshire. He is also a consultant for the ceramic industry specializing in powder characterization, ceramic powder processing and forming (of traditional and advanced ceramic materials and composites), high temperature processes (pyrolysis, sintering, microstructure evolution, and high temperature chemical reactions), mechanical behavior of ceramics and composites and statistical analysis.

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