Low Cost Test Methodology for High Temperature Materials using Military R&D Lasers

The problem facing many U. S. high temperature material vendors is the high cost and long span times required for testing with "conventional" techniques. The higher the heat flux required for the test, the more expensive the test, and the more elaborate the facility required. The cost and schedule required for testing by "conventional" means becomes a global competitiveness problem for U. S. high temperature materials vendors. The opportunity presents itself in the form of substantial cost and schedule savings to materials vendors if the existing laser testing techniques available at the High Energy Laser System Test Facility (HELSTF) are employed. The laser can provide extremely high heat fluxes and very high heat loads over a large surface area for extended periods of time. Furthermore, laser energy deposition rates are "throttleable" through device operating conditions and optical manipulation of the beam shape and intensity profile. Lasers are uniquely capable of generating high localized heat fluxes, making them candidate replacements for "conventional" arc and plasma jet test methodologies. The solution is to identify the vendors of high temperature materials that would benefit from the anticipated cost and schedule savings provided by the use of Military R&D lasers, and match these potential customers with HELSTF. The anticipated benefits are a reduction in the development and test cost of high temperature materials. An added benefit is that materials testing is an inherent part of HELSTF's mission and purpose, helping to justify the role of this unique national asset. It is anticipated that a successful Phase I effort will lead to identification of potential customers, and hence a market for commercial testing high temperature materials at HELSTF.