Frequently Asked Questions

•Is boron fiber a sole source material?

• Yes, Specialty Materials just celebrated 40 years of manufacturing boron-fiber based products in Lowell MA. & is a long-term supplier to the F-15, B1B, Predator & Seahawk helicopter programs

•Is Specialty Materials a small business?

• Yes, Specialty Materials is a qualified woman-owned small business

•Do I need to use special cutters with boron?

• No, but you need to cut along a template & use a newer box cutter blade & similar considerations are required when using an automatic ply cutting machine

•How do I machine boron composites?

• Customers like L3Harris and Northrop Grumman use a waterjet process with garnet abrasive; other customer have used synthetic diamond coated CNC tools. Specialty Materials provides a machining guide

•Are there any health & safety concerns using boron?

• Since it is a stiff monofilament there is a chance you can get splinters if you do not wear gloves.  Specialty Materials provides a Safety & Use Guide

•Can I customize the properties of Hy-Bor®?

• Yes through tailoring of the filaments per inch of boron used in the prepreg product