PRORA-USV SHS: Development of Sharp Hot Structures Based on Ultra High Temperature Metal Diborides

Paper number

IAC-05-C2.3.05

Author

Dr. Luigi Scatteia, CIRA Italian Aerospace Research Centre, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Raffaele Borrelli, CIRA Italian Aerospace Research Centre, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Antonio Del Vecchio, CIRA Italian Aerospace Research Centre, Italy

Coauthor

Dr. Giuliano Marino, CIRA Italian Aerospace Research Centre, Italy

Year

2005

Abstract

Sharp Hot Structures (SHS) is a technological project conducted by Italian Aerospace Research Centre (CIRA) within the framework of the Italian National Space Research Program (PRO.RA), supported by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (M.I.U.R). The project is focused on the applicability of modified metal diboride compounds to the manufacturing of high performance thermal protection systems and aims at designing and producing hot structure demonstrators to be tested in real operating conditions (on ground, using CIRA Plasma Wind Tunnel, and in-flight using the Unmanned Space Vehicle (USV) currently under development at CIRA).  
This paper will report on the work performed within the aforementioned project on a prototypal multi-material structure, which couple reinforced diborides to a C/SiC frame, built to demonstrate the applicability of an innovative concept of nose cap to the fabrication of a real component to be installed and subsequently tested on the USV spacecraft.  
Experimental laboratory data on plasma sprayed coatings and self-standing components as well as on hot isostatically pressed samples will be reported. Particular emphasis will be posed on the characterisation of the emissivity and of the cataliticity (i.e. the recombination of atomic oxygen on the material surface)  of the diboride, which are critical  in re-entry conditions.

Abstract document

IAC-05-C2.3.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-C2.3.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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