Space vehicles, hypersonic flight systems and promising nuclear power plants work in modes, where the metal melts, and polymers degrade - extremely high temperatures, radiation, corrosion and shock loads quickly eat away at the strength margin. That is why the USA is betting on materials for extreme environments: Electromagnetic Systems Division of General Atomics (GA-EMS) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) signed a memorandum of cooperation, to accelerate the industrial production of modern ceramic matrix composites.
For reference: GA-EMS specializes in advanced technologies. It designs and manufactures electromagnetic systems, high-voltage power plants, magnetic motors, aircraft launch systems, rail guns, as well as nuclear technologies and components for the aerospace and defense industries.
ORNL is the largest scientific research institution of the US Department of Energy, which specializes in advanced research in the field of materials science, of nuclear energy, supercomputers, isotopes and energy efficiency.
Under the terms of the agreement, GA-EMS will test and refine its manufacturing processes for ceramic precursors, fibers and composites, involving the infrastructure and expertise of the Manufacturing Demonstration Center (DCV) at ORNL — a site, created for rapid introduction of additive and composite technologies in industry. The partners plan to show how to improve energy efficiency, productivity and stability of technological cycles, to ensure reliable supply chains for such materials for government agencies and civilian markets.
The focus is on scalable methods of precursor production, fibers, composites and coatings for carbon/carbon systems, carbon/SiC та SiC/SiC. The team must combine the innovative GA-EMS processes with the proven practices of the DCS: improvement of resins and binders, more precisely, formation, built-in control of process parameters and optimized heat treatment. GA-EMS is waiting, that it will shorten production cycles and help bring materials to real-world applications faster — from heat shielding for hypersonic systems to components for nuclear and fusion demonstrators.
For reference: carbon/carbon system is a high-tech composite material, which has extremely high strength, low density and retains working properties at temperatures up to 3000 °C, which makes it indispensable in aviation, space and braking systems; carbon/SiC system is a high-tech composite material or structure, which combines exceptional heat resistance, mechanical strength, wear resistance and low density, often used as protective coatings or structural materials; SiC/SiC system is an advanced ceramic composite material, which combines extremely high heat resistance, strength and wear resistance, which allows its use in aerospace engineering, turbines and nuclear reactors.
Class C/C and SiC/SiC materials are the way to lighter and heat-resistant structures: thermal protection for reusable devices, elements of engines/heat exchangers, details, operating under a powerful heat flow and radiation. ORNL notes, that their technologies for composites in extreme conditions are oriented, in particular, for use in space flights, а також демонструє приклади на кшталт теплозахисних елементів для місій NASA.
Source: https://universemagazine.com