pbo and nomex u2122 may be combined by needling the two layers together as used herein u201c needling u201d is meant as the process of repeatedly projecting one or more barbed needles through a material such that fibers of the material or multiple materials being needled together are forced to entangle thus creating a unitary felt type body from single component materials and thus effectively stitching together multiple component materials the felt 12 is pre heat treated prior to installation upon a vehicle by first exposing the felt to incremental heat treatments which are gradually increased to about 750 u00b0 f this eliminates subsequent adverse shrinkage and allows any volatile materials to be driven off a layer 13 of coated ceramic fabric is laminated to the outer mold line surface of the felt 12 the coated fabric 13 reradiates heat away from the felt material and provides a smooth aerodynamic surface the coated fabric layer 13 is constructed of a base fabric 14 of woven ceramic fibers the layer 13 preferably has a thickness of between about 0 01 and about 0 06 inches and most preferably about 0 03 inches the fibers of the fabric are ceramic and remain physically stable when exposed to extreme temperatures such as those experienced by a spacecraft upon re entry into the atmosphere the fibers are continuous meaning that most of the fibers span.