Non-Ablative 5000F MKV Divert Valve Insulator

This Phase II MDA SBIR Program seeks to demonstrate a new high temperature non-ablative 5000F MKV divert valve insulator. ATK (Elkton, MD)is designing the MKV Divert Valve and has experienced unacceptable charring and collapse of the silica/phenolic composite insulator that supports the rhenium nozzle during firing. This is attributed to the phenolic pyrolyzing and forming a char layer at the rhenium throat interface which does not have the strength to support and maintain alignment of the rhenium throat during the motor firing. This lack of precise alignment of the rhenium throat causes unacceptable directional control errors to the MKV’s. MATECH/GSM proposes to use its Net-to-Shape Zirconium Oxy-Carbide (ZrOC) 5000F insulating material to inexpensively replace the current silca phenolic insulator. This accelerated 16 month Phase II program is designed to qualify the ZrOC insulator for insertion into the MKV Divert Valve design in CY 2007.