Non-Contact Tabletop Mechanical Testing of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics

New methods and technology to rapidly characterize UHTC creep are necessary to fully understand and exploit their high temperature properties for hypersonic vehicles and rocket nozzles. Recently, the University of Michigan has developed a rapid, table top apparatus for characterizing the oxidation behavior of UHTC’s. A team comprised of Advanced Ceramics Manufacturing (ACM) and the University of Michigan propose adapting the rapid oxidation system to characterize high temperature creep behavior. The objective of this proposal is to develop rapid, non-contact test methods for characterizing UHTC creep at temperatures >2200°C. The proposed method is based on Lorentz forces acting upon electrically conductive UHTC’s. Creep data may be obtained continuously in-situ on small samples 3 x 4 x 50 mm in size. Ultimately, a fully developed system could provide creep data as well as ultra high temperature elastic, fracture, and fatigue properties.