Qualification and reusability campaigns were performed on ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) made of a ZrB-SiC matrix with short/long carbon fibre to assess their performance as thermal protection systems. Heat fluxes and stagnation pressures were set following those of reference re-entry missions. An interdisciplinary analysis followed by combining infrared measurements of the thermal response, estimation of surface properties and microstructural characterization. Compared to conventional C/SiC composites, the increased erosion resistance of the new UHTCMCs was assessed in ultra-hot regime: although these experienced much higher thermal loads, they underwent minimal erosion and preserved their structural stability even after multiple exposures.
Qualification and reusability of long and short fibre-reinforced ultra-refractory composites for aerospace thermal protection systems
Silvestroni L;Zoli L;Sciti D
2022
Abstract
Qualification and reusability campaigns were performed on ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) made of a ZrB-SiC matrix with short/long carbon fibre to assess their performance as thermal protection systems. Heat fluxes and stagnation pressures were set following those of reference re-entry missions. An interdisciplinary analysis followed by combining infrared measurements of the thermal response, estimation of surface properties and microstructural characterization. Compared to conventional C/SiC composites, the increased erosion resistance of the new UHTCMCs was assessed in ultra-hot regime: although these experienced much higher thermal loads, they underwent minimal erosion and preserved their structural stability even after multiple exposures.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.