Advanced Rocket Propulsion Technologies

"Ceracom, Inc. will develop ultra-high temperature fiber reinforced ceramic composites (CMC) for radiation cooled liquid rocket engine components. The SBIR program is focused on developing CMC boost nozzles, reducing weight at least 50% and cost at least25%. The Ceracom nozzle materials will operate at surface temperatures exceeding 3600oF in the O2/H2 combustion environment and survive a minimum of 40 launch cycles (8.5 minutes each), offering significant advantages over those advanced materials nowbeing considered for large, SSME size-class, radiation cooled nozzles. The majority of our work will focus on this application; however, the technology will also enable higher temperature and more efficient operation for other propulsion systems, e.g.,scramjet, RBCC and DACS.In the Phase I program we will demonstrate feasibility by focusing on two critical issues, meeting mechanical property requirements (strength and stiffness), and withstanding the cyclic loadings required by a reusable nozzle. Phase II will rely heavily onthe collaboration with our industrial partners and AFRL, and the development will focus on demonstrating process scalability, cost effectiveness, and manufacturability. We will design and fabricate a larger scale demonstrator to justify continuation intoa Phase III program where actual nozzles will be designed, developed, fabricated and tested. Innovation will increase thrust/weight, thereby decreasing the cost of