Polysilazane Enhanced Nanocomposite Thermal Protection System

KiON Defense Technologies, Inc. (KDT) has teamed with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (LM) and Materials Research & Design, Inc. (MR & D) to demonstrate the effectiveness of a low areal density Thermal Protection System (TPS) for Navy reentry bodies. The new TPS system will incorporate KDT"s unique commercial polysilazane products as well as nanoreinforcing materials into baseline Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) structures to decrease thermal conductivity and increase char yield, thus permitting reduced thickness and lower weight structures. KDT will formulate, prepare and test a series of improved TPS coupons for thermal, mechanical, and laser ablation prescreening during Phase I using our low cost, advanced commercial resins. LM will assist in providing the system requirements and suggested Phase I tests, while MR & D will support the program through various modeling, analyses and materials recommendations. The results of the Phase I will provide sufficient materials and modeling data to demonstrate the feasibility of this technology for deployment on Navy missile platforms, such as Lockheed Martin"s Trident II (D5) missile. The Phase II effort will continue development and more extensive testing, with scale-up for prototype ground-based aerothermal load testing and analysis to pave the way for Phase III Scale up and eventual flight testing.