The aerospace industry relies on advanced composite materials to achieve lighter structures, greater fuel efficiency, and highly repeatable part quality. As aircraft programs continue scaling in Wichita, Charleston, Seattle, and other aerospace manufacturing clusters, the demand for reliable, high-performance prepreg release liners is increasing. Release films and papers are essential to prepreg production, automated tape laying (ATL), automated fiber placement (AFP), hand layup, and autoclave cure processes. Without the high performance release liners, composite manufacturers face significant risks: out-time loss, poor surface quality, fiber imprinting, contamination, and cure-cycle interruptions.
Fox River Associates offers a full line of release liners for advanced composites production. Our technical team is ready to work with you to understand your products and process. Together we can identify the appropriate paper release liner and film release liner options for you to sample in your operation. Use the form on this page or call us at 1-800-647-6579.
Why Prepreg Release Liners Matter in Aerospace Composites
Whether the composite material is carbon fiber, aramid fiber, or hybrid reinforcement, the prepreg manufacturing process depends on a controlled interface between the resin system and the release liner material. A properly engineered release liner for aerospace composites ensures:
- Resin containment and profile control
- Stable protection during refrigeration, shipping, and storage
- Predictable release behavior during layup and consolidation
- Clean separation during cure cycles at elevated temperatures
For aerospace composite structures, wing skins, nacelle components, fuselage barrels, spars, ribs, fairings, and interior structures, the consistency of the release liner directly affects manufacturing efficiency and the quality of the cured laminate.
Prepreg manufacturers require silicone-coated PET films, fluoropolymer films, polyolefin liners, and specialty papers engineered to withstand high temperatures and precise resin chemistries. The aerospace industry’s tight tolerances and rigorous qualification processes make the correct liner selection a key technical decision.
Fox River Associates offers a full breadth of release liners for prepreg manufacturing operations, composite panel production, and resin filming processes. Because of the extreme conditions release liners are exposed to during processing and storage, release liners for composite applications must be engineered with specific performance characteristics including improved layflat properties and dimensional stability. Fox River Associates understands the unique characteristics of these demanding applications and is ready to serve your release liner needs.
Contact the Fox River Associates team today! Call us at 1-800-647-6579, our experienced team has the expertise to recommend the appropriate release liner for your composites applications.
Aerospace Regions and Composite Manufacturing Clusters
Aerospace activity in the United States continues to concentrate in regions that support engineering talent, large-scale assembly, and complex supply chains. These clusters represent substantial demand for prepreg materials and the release liners used to manufacture and process them.
Wichita, Kansas – “Air Capital of the World”
Wichita remains one of the most significant aerospace manufacturing hubs globally. The Greater Wichita Partnership and the region’s network of OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, machine shops, and composite fabricators support major airframe programs. Both commercial aviation and defense programs rely on prepreg materials produced in high volumes, driving consistent consumption of high-temperature release films and papers for resin impregnation, layup, and curing.
North Charleston / Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston has become a major center for composite aerostructures, particularly for fuselage sections, floor beams, and interior structures. Its supply chain includes advanced materials producers, automated manufacturing integrators, and tooling companies, each requiring specialized release liners compatible with autoclave processing and out-of-autoclave cure cycles.
Seattle & the Pacific Northwest
The broader Seattle-Everett-Renton corridor continues to lead innovation in aircraft manufacturing and composite engineering. Aerospace primes, Tier-1 integrators, and prepreg producers in the region routinely source silicone-coated PET films, high-temperature fluoropolymer liners, and precision-engineered papers to support both legacy aircraft programs and next-generation composite structures.
Other Emerging Aerospace Clusters
Composite manufacturing continues expanding in Utah, Arizona, Northern Alabama, Southern California, and parts of Texas. These clusters concentrate capital equipment such as autoclaves, ATL/AFP systems, and resin-mixing operations—each of which relies on stable release liner supply for prepreg and fiber-reinforced materials.
At Fox River Associates we have over 35+ years of focused expertise in the release liner industry - our only business is release liners. That single-minded focus has made Fox River Associates one of the most trusted names in the industry. For highly technical market applications, like aerospace composites, Fox River Associates is your trusted supplier for release liners. Our experienced team is located throughout the United States to serve the Aerospace Clusters without unparalleled product offering. Ready to learn more about how Fox River Associates can work with you? Use the form on this page, our team is ready to work with you.
How to Choose a High-Temperature Release Liner Film for Prepreg Manufacturing
Selecting the appropriate release liner for aerospace prepreg involves balancing several functional and material criteria. Release liner films must withstand cure temperatures typically ranging from 250°F to 375°F, depending on resin system, and must not distort, shrink, or transfer contaminants that could compromise laminate quality.
When evaluating a high-temperature release liner film, aerospace manufacturers typically assess the following:
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- Thermal Stability and Cure-Cycle Resistance
PET release films are common for many epoxy and BMI prepregs due to their dimensional stability and predictable release behavior. For extreme temperatures or highly reactive resin systems, fluoropolymer films may be required. - Silicone or Non-Silicone Release Coating Selection
Silicone systems are preferred for consistent release force and clean separation. In certain cases, particularly in adhesive-critical applications—non-silicone coatings help prevent transfer or migration. - Surface Texture and Gloss Level
Film surface characteristics influence resin flow, fiber imprint, and final part surface quality. Options range from super-smooth to matte or embossed, depending on the desired prepreg behavior. - Caliper and Mechanical Strength
Thicker films may be required for high-pressure autoclave cycles, while thinner films are used where flexibility and tight conformance are critical. - Compatibility With Resin Chemistry
Epoxy, cyanate ester, BMI, PEI, and thermoplastic resin systems each behave differently under heat and pressure. The film release liner must be chemically inert and able to maintain stability across the entire cure cycle.
- Thermal Stability and Cure-Cycle Resistance
Applications of Release Liners in Aerospace Prepreg Production
Prepreg manufacturers use release liners through multiple processing steps. In aerospace programs, these steps must maintain repeatability and traceability:
- Resin impregnation of carbon or aramid fiber
- B-staging on heated drums and conveyors
- Automated slitting and rewinding
- In-process protection during refrigerated transportation
- Layup, debulk, and consolidation in autoclave or OOA processes
The liner’s functional role is continuous, from the moment the resin touches the reinforcement to the moment the composite is cured and released.
Key Benefits Aerospace Manufacturers Seek from Release Liners
Aerospace primes and suppliers often evaluate release liners based on the following performance factors:
- Reliable release force across temperature ranges, ensuring predictable removal during layup and cure
- Dimensional stability that prevents distortion of fiber architecture or resin distribution
- Low risk of extractables, volatiles, or silicone transfer that could disrupt bonding surfaces
Release liners from Fox River Associates are engineered to perform to the demanding requirements of the aerospace industry and the performance of composite structures. With the lowest leads times in the industry, small minimum order requirements and nationwide reach with local service, Fox River Associates is a preferred choice by composite manufacturers for the highest quality release liners.
Release Liner Options for Aerospace Prepreg and Composite Manufacturing
Aerospace composite producers generally select from the following categories of release liners:
- Silicone-coated PET films in multiple gauges and surface finishes
- High-temperature fluoropolymer film release liners for demanding resin systems
- Polyethylene and polypropylene liners for lower-temperature and specialty processes
- Silicone-coated polycoated papers for structural and adhesive prepreg manufacturing
Ready to learn more about the selection of release liner options available from Fox River Associates? Call us today at 1-800-647-6579 or use the form on this page.
Why Aerospace Manufacturers Choose Fox River Associates
Fox River Associates is a leading supplier of paper and film release liners used throughout the aerospace composite supply chain. With more than 35 years serving prepreg producers and advanced materials manufacturers, Fox River Associates provides technical guidance, rapid availability, and high-quality silicone-coated release liners engineered for demanding aerospace environments.
Customers rely on Fox River Associates for three principal advantages:
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- Low Minimum Order Quantities
Aerospace programs often require quick-turn material for qualification trials, prototype development, or limited-run production. Fox River Associates supports these needs by offering responsive supply with low MOQs to help manufacturers remain agile. - Experienced Technical Staff
The company’s technical team brings deep knowledge of composites manufacturing, resin systems, cure cycles, and release liner engineering. They work directly with customers to identify the most appropriate liner for each application, whether for prepreg production, ATL/AFP placement, autoclave cure, or out-of-autoclave processes. - Highest Quality Release Liners
Fox River Associates sources and delivers only top-grade silicone-coated films and specialty papers. Their products maintain stability throughout high-temperature cycles, ensuring consistency, clean release, and long-term reliability across aerospace programs.
- Low Minimum Order Quantities
Whether your need is for paper or film release liners, silicone or non-silicone coatings, or specialty constructions designed for demanding environments, Fox River Associates is your trusted partner.