2026 High Temple Workshop
9 – 12 February 2026
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
Palm Springs, CA
History
The High Temple Workshop provides opportunities for the high temperature composites community to learn, evaluate and review current advances impacting the community.
THE BEGINNING
The High Temperature Polymeric Laminate (HIGH TEMPLE aka High Temple) Workshop was initiated in 1982 by a Tri-Service/NASA steering group composed of the following members: John Rhodehamel, AFWAL/MLSE; Jim Koury, AFRPL/MKAT; Terry St. Clair, NASA/Langley Research Center; Tito Serafini, NASA Lewis Research Center; Richard Thompson, U.S. Army Missile Command; and Charles Blackman, Naval Surface Weapons Center. The 1st High Temple Workshop was administered by Ken Clayton, University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI). Workshop 1 was co-sponsored by the JANNAF Structures and Mechanical Behavior and Propulsion Costs Subcommittees and hosted by the NASA/White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico, on 24-28 May 1982. The purpose of the workshop was to determine the state of development of high temperature polymeric composites and to establish an understanding of future technology needs and service requirements. Emphasis was placed on basic polymer chemistry, materials development, and materials applications. Presentation material was documented in Chemical Propulsion Information Agency (CPIA) Publication 358, dated June 1982.
PAST WORKSHOPS
The success of the initial workshop led to a 2nd Workshop hosted by UDRI and held at the Dayton Mall Holidome, Dayton, Ohio, on 7-9 December 1982. Emphasis was on the processibility and producibility of high temperature polymeric composites from both a lamination and filament-wound approach. Presentation material was documented in AFWAL/MLSE Report AFWAL-TR-83-4026, dated February 1983.
The 3rd Workshop was hosted by UDRI and held at the Dayton Mall Holidome on 26-28 October 1983. Emphasis was focused on the art and science of testing and evaluating polymeric composites that are designed to be used in a temperature range of 600°F to 1,400°F. Extensive discussions covered the topical areas of requirements, material system usage criteria, candidate screening tests, structural element and full -scale verification test methods, physical and mechanical properties test methods, chemical characterization, and material system acceptance criteria. Presentation material was documented in AFWAL/MLSE Report AFWAL-TR-84-4027, dated March 1984.
Workshops 4-current were general topic workshops covering the area of design, development, testing, and application of high temperature reinforced polymeric composites. Presentation materials from workshops 4-24 were published during the workshops for distribution to all attendees. Presentation materials from workshops 25-current were either provided on the NAMIS website or distributed to attendees on a CD.
PAST SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RXSA) helped sponsor High Temple Workshops 1-25. Other Air Force organizations that have contributed workshop funding include AFRL/MKAT, AFRL/RXBC and AFRL/VTSC. In addition to the Air Force, NASA Glenn Research Center, NASA Langley Research Center, NASA White Sands Test Range, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JANNAF Structures and the U.S. Navy all helped sponsor past High Temple Workshops.
A number of companies & individuals have sponsored events such as receptions, social hours and golf outings at past High Temple Workshops. Adherent Technologies Inc., Canyon Composites Inc., CHRISKEV Company Inc., Composites Horizons Inc., Cytec Carbon Fibers LLC, Cytec Engineered Materials Inc., Fiber Innovations Inc., Hexcel Corp., Hillary Huttenhower, JFC Technologies, Maverick Corp., Renegade Materials Corp., Sherwood Advanced Composite Technologies, Sigmatex, UDRI and YLA Inc. have all generously sponsored events at past High Temple Workshops.
In 2009, the High Temple Technical Sponsorship Program was initiated at the request of numerous industry organizations that wanted to support the meeting financially. Since its inception, the following organizations have graciously participated in the High Temple Technical Sponsorship Program: Adherent Technologies, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, AirTech, Air Force Research Laboratory, Arxada LLC, CABB Jayhawk Fine Chemicals, Cambium, CHRISKEV Company, Composites Horizons Inc., DuPont, EVONIK, GE Aerospace, Loose Canon, Matrix Composites, Maverick Corporation, Novoset, LLC, Teijin/Renegade Materials Corporation, SAMPE, Solvay, Sparta, Specialty Materials, Syensqo, TenCate, Texas Research Institute-Austin, Textum, Tideway Arts and Sciences LLC, ‘TORAY’ Toray Advanced Composites and UDRI.
HIGH TEMPLE WORKSHOP STEERING COMMITTEE
The current High Temple Workshop Steering Committee members are: Caitlin Duffner, AFRL/RXNSR; Gray Fowler, Textum; Greg Gemeinhardt, GE Aerospace; Andrew Guenthner, Tideway Arts and Sciences, LLC; Ben Harvey, NAWCWD; Hillary Huttenhower, Pratt and Whitney; Hilmar Koerner, AFRL/RXNP; Andrew Littlefield, US Army DEVCOM; Dan McCray, UDRI; and Kaitlin Rigitano, UDRI.
UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON RESEARCH INSTITUTE
UDRI has been intimately involved with the High Temple Workshop since its inception. UDRI hosted Workshops 2, 3, and most recently 41, and administered all remaining Workshops to date. Ken Clayton, UDRI, organized and administered Workshops 1-13 until his retirement in 1993. Ron Kuhbander, UDRI, took over for Ken and administered High Temple Workshops 13-18 until his retirement in 1998. Dan McCray, UDRI, administered High Temple Workshops 19-36. Since 2016, Dan has served as a Technical Program Co-Chair. Corey Kondash, UDRI, served as workshop coordinator from 2016-2022. Since 2022, Kaitlin Rigitano, UDRI, has served as workshop coordinator. Cynthia O’Brien, UDRI, and James Trzeciak, UDRI, provide administrative and technical support for the workshop. In 2005, UDRI assumed full responsibility for sponsoring and administering the High Temple Workshops. Since that 26th Workshop, UDRI has sponsored and administered every High Temple Workshop to date and is administering the High Temple Workshop scheduled for this year.
Location
The 45th High Temperature Polymeric Laminate (High Temple) Workshop, administered by the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI), will be held 9-12 February 2026, at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel in Palm Springs, CA. All sessions will be unclassified.
TRANSPORTATION
Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel is located in Palm Springs, CA. Three primary airports are within driving distance.
- Palm Springs Int. Airport (PSP) – 2 miles
- John Wayne Airport (SNA) – 98 miles
- Los Angeles Int. Airport (LAX) – 123 miles
Abstracts
Abstracts for the 45th High Temple Workshop are now being accepted. Please see the link for additional information. The Call for Abstracts deadline is September 22, 2025.
If you are interested in submitting an abstract, please contact:
Kaitlin Rigitano
UDRI
phone: 937-255-3830
e-mail: kaitlin.rigitano@udri.udayton.edu
Invitation
The Invitation Package for the 45th High Temple Workshop will be available in October 2025
Registration
Registration for the 45th High Temple Workshop will be available later this year
Agenda
A more detailed Preliminary Agenda for the 45th High Temple Workshop will be released in October 2025
Database
The High Temple Proceedings Database is fully operational under the National Materials Information System (NAMIS) Database, managed by the Defense Systems Information Analysis Center (DSIAC). Any questions should be submitted to Mr. Ted Welsh at ted.welsh@dsiac.org.