Nano Enhanced 4000 °F CMC for Multiple Use Applications

There is an urgent need to develop low-cost, damage tolerant, reusable and lightweight hot structure technology applicable to atmospheric entry vehicles, exposed to extreme temperatures between 1000° C to 2200° C. Advanced carbon-carbons (C-C) and carbon fiber reinforced ceramic matrix composites (CMC) are the most promising and possibly the most affordable light-weight material candidates for these identified applications.Since mid-1980s, many advancements, including but not limited to (1) internal inhibition using glass forming particulates (2) oxidation resistant ceramic matrices and (3) advanced coating systems, have demonstrated and have significantly improved the performances of carbon fiber reinforced composites under oxidative environment at high temperature. Unfortunately, none of these SOTA CMCs even with the advanced and expensive coating system are inherently oxidative resistant with proven reliability and therefore are not capable to meet the challenges required by multiple usage applications.In Phase I, Allcomp proposes to demonstrate the feasibility of inherently oxidation resistant C-C and C-SiC composites capable to operate between 1000° C to 2200° C by fine-tuning our innovative nano-scaled glass forming and internal inhibition technologies using scalable and production-ready processes. Once proven, coupled with advanced adherent and crack free external coating systems currently being developed at Allcomp, this new class of CMCs will enable hot structures meeting the challenges of multiple uses applications up to 2000 °C (4000 °F) with significantly improved reliability at reduced risks.