Hexcel Earns First NCAMP Qualification for Honeycomb Core Material

Hexcel Corporation has secured the aerospace industry’s first National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) qualification for a honeycomb core material, establishing a publicly available database intended to streamline structural design and reduce qualification costs.

In a press release issued on September 22, 2026, the Stamford, Connecticut-based advanced composites manufacturers announced the qualification of its HexWeb HRH-10 aerospace honeycomb. The milestone extends the NCAMP framework beyond composite prepreg systems, providing engineers with design-ready material data to accelerate the adoption of composite structures.

Expanding the NCAMP framework

The qualification was achieved in conjunction with NCAMP and Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR). Historically, NCAMP databases have focused primarily on composite prepreg systems. The inclusion of honeycomb core materials represents a structural shift in how aerospace manufacturers can access and utilize standardized engineering data.

Lyndon Smith, Hexcel President of Americas & Global Fibers, emphasized the growing necessity of standardized data for manufacturers developing advanced aircraft and launch vehicles.

“As aerospace manufacturers work to bring increasingly advanced aircraft, launch vehicles and other aerospace platforms to market, access to trusted engineering data is becoming as important as access to the materials themselves,” Smith stated.

Industry applications and upcoming showcases

The establishment of a common foundation for honeycomb core materials allows engineers to bypass redundant testing phases. Smith noted that this accessibility enables design teams to focus on developing next-generation aerospace structures rather than foundational material qualification.

Hexcel plans to present the newly qualified HRH-10 honeycomb at the CAMX 2026 trade show. The company will showcase the material alongside its expanded United States manufacturing capabilities for the HexPly M901 fast-curing prepreg system.

AirPro News analysis

We view the expansion of the NCAMP database to include honeycomb core materials as a practical step toward lowering the barrier to entry for advanced composite manufacturing. By socializing the qualification costs and providing a trusted baseline of material properties, smaller aerospace entrants and established original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) alike can accelerate their development timelines. This move aligns with broader industry trends prioritizing rapid prototyping and reduced time-to-market for novel aerospace platforms.

Sources: Hexcel Corporation