High Pressure Compacted Non-Eroding Throats for Controllable Axial Upper Stages

In response to MDA’s needs for non-eroding throats for controllable axial upper stages , UTRON proposes an innovative near net shape fabrication technology called High Pressure Combustion Driven Powder Compaction (CDC) with tremendous potential for cost-effective manufacturing of advanced cermet type of alloys of ceramics such as micro/nano HfC, HfB2, HfN, ZrC and/or with high temperature ductilizing refractory metal such as Rhenium or Rhenium based alloy as well as ZrC/HfC particulate based composites. Major advantages of CDC process are: faster process cycle time (e.g., milliseconds), much higher densification, less part shrinkage, better mechanical/high temperature strength attributes, ability for micro/nano powder consolidation and simple/complex geometry, much less/no materials wastage cast, superior surface quality (e.g., micron/sub-micron finishes) compared to cast/plasma sprayed/CVD parts, and scaling up potential. Representative (0.5 to 1 inch diameters) disks and select small scale throat ring samples will be fabricated to show the proof of concept and evaluated for CDC process optimization, thermal sintering responses, physical /geometrical/surface quality properties, microstructure, microchemistry and mechanical/high temperature properties in Phase I. Our proposed R&D efforts are integrated by close partnership with a major MDA subcontractor-Aerojet and SRI. Further advanced novel cermet advanced alloy development, CDC process control, fabrication of specific scaled up geometries, testing and scaling up efforts will be done in Phase II.