Nano Nucleation of Unique Long Range Order Materials via Seed Crystals

This Phase I SBIR proposal seeks to create polycrystalline ceramics using nanomaterials as seed crystals to promote the formation of well-ordered crystalline domains of ceramic materials that are more resistant to high temperature oxidation and capable of higher strain than conventional ceramics. The rationale is that fine micrograins, containing well-ordered, uniform atomic lattice crystals, materials will exhibit less brittle fracture and resist oxidation and ablation. In other words, they will behave more like high temperature metals. This proposal takes the view that refractory carbides such as hafnium carbide are the best high temperature ablation resistant materials possible, and their ultimate performance depends upon a well-ordered atomic lattice in a uniform, micro-dispersed grain structure.