Ultra High Temperature Composites for Thermal Protection Systems

  • Parker, B. (PI)
  • Ilie, Marcel (PI)
  • An, Linan L. (CoPI)
  • Kapat, Jay J. (CoPI)
  • Orlovskaya, Nina N. (CoPI)

Project: Research

Project Details

Description

Ultra high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are a class of ceramics that are physically and chemically stable at temperatures above 2400°C and have melting temperature above 3200°C. Potential applications of these materials include components for leading edges and nose cones of hypersonic missiles and vehicles, kinetic energy interceptors, advanced ceramic engine components, re-entry vehicles, and as TPS for rocket thrust nozzles, etc. The research team will develop composites of UHTC top layer (e.g., ZrB2-SiC) and PZT piezoelectric/ZrO2 chemical sensing/Polymer Derived Ceramic (PDC) bottom layer which would allow to perform temperature, oxygen content, and stress sensing. While the top layer is highly oxidation-resistant at elevated temperatures, the bottom layer can sense mechanical and thermal stresses, as well as provide an input on the oxidation status of the upper ZrB2 UHTC layer. Thus UHTC composites with multifunctional structures will be developed. The team proposes to utilize a rapid processing scheme called spark plasma sintering (SPS) method that can sinter powders within 5 min at elevated temperatures and simultaneously provide a gradient in the temperature profile so that ceramics and sensor materials (with piezoelectric properties) can be sintered simultaneously to form multifunctional materials as desired. Hot isostatic pressing along with magnetron sputtering will be also used for multilayered materials' manufacturing. The proposal focuses on development of many such multifunctional systems with different combination of materials, and will investigate fundamental issues of processibility, microstructure development, interfacial characteristics, and mechanical performance.
StatusActive
Effective start/end date09/15/10 → …

Funding

  • U.S. Department of Transportation: $245,090.00

Scopus Subject Areas

  • Transportation
  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics

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