Ceramic Composite Missile Fins

Ceracom is developing manufacturing capabilities to produce ceramic matrix composite (CMC) fins for the PAC3 missile upgrade. This CMC fin is lighter weight, stiffer, and less expensive than the current metallic fin. Ceracom has developed an innovativeenhanced vapor infiltration process to make CMC products that is significantly faster than other gas reactant processes. The ENVIT process can produce fins in various sizes in days instead of the usual weeks. Our improved manufacturing will lower thecost of fins while improving the performance. Ceracom is implementing a plan to facilitate product transition from an R&D environment to a manufacturing environment. This proposal develops the manufacturing road map to have fins available at criticaltimes matching the needs of the PAC3 upgrade over the next several years. Because Ceracom's proposed manufacturing facility is modular and based on off-the-shelf equipment, the process can be ramped up quickly to meet urgent needs as they arise. Theflexible manufacturing process will enable Ceracom to quickly scale-up many products of interest to the Missile Defense Agency, such as deployable and hinged fins. In addition, the manufacturing modules can be used to make thruster and structural members.Our project will stimulate input of ceramic matrix composites (CMC) into the missile defense programs. The manufacturing modules are for flexible, which leads to expanded capabilities of making many types of CMC products. Availability of CMC products inthe marketplace can make a significant impact on commercial and government acceptance and use of CMC materials. Ceracom's manufacturing puts us in a cost competitive basis with other technologies that are currently used in fins, rocket nozzles, controlsurfaces, and thermal protection surfaces. Even though CMCs have superior properties for some of these applications, they have not historically been used because of restrictions on manufacturing capabilities and technologies. Ceracom's flexiblemanufacturing helps solve the availability issues and the technology issues to produce large parts in a timely manner.