Advanced Divert and Attitude Control System Materials for Liquid/Gel DACS Systems

Fiber Materials, Inc., teamed with Aerojet and Plasma Processes, Inc., will complete the design and development leading to fabrication and demonstration of a ceramic matrix composite thrust chamber and requisite joining technologies for an advanced liquid/gel divert and attitude control (LDACS) application. The proposed Phase II development program will utilize a non-eroding material based on carbon fiber reinforced carbon silicon carbide (C-SiC). Current DACS thrust chamber designs employ columbium components with a maximum operating temperature of 2600 °F. The proposed C-SiC component design has a significantly higher operation temperature (3700 °F) with extended operational duty times. The ceramic matrix composite design proposed here will have a thrust capability of 1000 lbf (pound force), also significantly greater than the current state of the art design. The added thrust capability will enable higher performance advanced designs, applicable to GMD / KEI missile programs employing liquid/gel DACS systems, including THAAD. Development of missile control systems incorporating C-SiC composite materials and novel joining technology holds promise to significantly reduce system cost and complexity while also increasing the thrust-to-weight ratio as compared to refractory metal based system concepts.