Diboride Composites Reinforced with Silicon-Carbide Platelets

The addition of Sic Platelets to selected diboride material systems offers the possibilities of increased toughness and improved Thermal protection. The innovative use of single crystal silicon carbide platelets with their highly reflective crystalographic planes, could lead to increased hot wall heat fluxes due to increased reflectivity of the platelets versus the normal particulate. In addition to increased thermal performance, one would anticipate an improvement in the fracture toughness of a platelet reinforced composite over the normal particulate material due to beneficial crack tip deflection. A series of materials and processing techniques will be employed to produce test coupons for mechanical and arc jet testing. Assumming success, a number of devices such as leading edges, injectors, heat exchangers, and sensors could be manufactured under a Phase 2 project.