High Temperature Fin and Control Surfaces

This proposed effort builds on the successful Phase I results in producing a high operating temperature fin/ control surface with self-healing leading edge for high-speed missiles including Hypersonic flight. Under Phase I we demonstrated the ability to produce a leading edge that has been pre-oxidized to self-heal under high temperature and oxygenated environments. In addition, Peregrine has replaced conventional stainless steel and nickel-based materials in standard missile fins/ control surfaces with refractory metalsĀand joined them monolithically via Liquid Interface Diffusion Bonding.Ā This innovation takes the fin/control surfaces from SST and Ni temperatures with operating limits under 800░C to a new higher limit with a leading-edge temperature of 2100░C.Ā Liquid Interface Diffusion (LID) Bonding creates a monolithic joint that allows the entire structure to operate up to its allowable limits as it reaches its melt pointĀwhile a pre-oxidized leading edge melts well above the anticipatedĀ peak temperatures of Hypersonic Flight. ĀLID Bonding eliminates the weak link in the current fin/control surface designs that rely on epoxy bonding or brazing and thereby substantially raises the operating temperature limit.