Qualification and reusability of long and short fibre-reinforced ultra-refractory composites for aerospace thermal protection systems

• Published in: Corrosion science Vol. 195; p. 109955
• Main Authors: Mungiguerra, S., Silvestroni, L., Savino, R., Zoli, L., Esser, B., Lagos, M., Sciti, D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Ablation; Carbon fibers; Ceramic matrix composites; Composites; Erosion resistance; Fiber composites; Heat flux; Infrared analysis; Reusability; Short fibers; Structural stability; Surface properties; Thermal analysis; Thermal protection; Thermal response; TPS; UHTCMC; Ultrahigh temperature; UHTCMC; Composites; Reusability; Ablation; TPS
• ISSN: 0010-938X; 1879-0496
• DOI: 10.1016/j.corsci.2021.109955

Qualification and reusability campaigns were performed on ultra-high temperature ceramic matrix composites (UHTCMCs) made of a ZrB2-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.
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•Aero-thermo-dynamic tests on novel materials for hypersonic thermal protection systems.•Ultra-high temperature ceramic composites well tolerated 2–8.5 MW/m2 with 8.5–70 kPa.•Repeated exposure to aggressive shear fluxes did not ablate the UHTCMCs.•Comparison with typical C/SiC composites showed improved structural stability.