Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC's)
by Don Ellerby
In the continuing pursuit to improve the performance of future reentry vehicles, scientists and engineers at NASA Ames Research Center have been developing Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC's) for their higher temperature capability, which is required for vehicles with sharp leading edges. Sharper leading edges will reduce the vehicle's drag, enhancing the vehicle's maneuverability and performance, and also improve safety due to an increased cross range and larger abort window. Analysis has shown that materials with temperature capability approaching 2000°C and above will be required for these vehicles, but the state of the art Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) material currently used on the space shuttle's nose cone and wing leading edges has a maximum use temperatures of approximately 1650°C.
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