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Advanced Foam Core Composite Insulation for Extended Range Hypersonic Vehicles

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Air Force 		Award ID:
82056 		Program Year/Program:
2007 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
F071-128-2659 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
N/A 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Ultramet
12173 Montague Street Pacoima, CA -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2007
Title: Advanced Foam Core Composite Insulation for Extended Range Hypersonic Vehicles
Agency / Branch: DOD / USAF
Contract: FA8650-07-M-5051
Award Amount: $100,000.00
 

Abstract:

Hypersonic flight requires the development of insulating materials with a combination of thermal conductivity, density, and structural integrity that is beyond the capability of materials currently in use. In previous thermal protection system work for DoD and NASA, Ultramet developed a highly insulating and lightweight material by combining an open-cell foam skeleton with an ultralow-density aerogel filler material. The foam serves as an easily machinable structural reinforcement for the low-strength aerogel insulator and defines the shape of the component. The combined density of the foam/aerogel composite insulator is <0.07 g/cm3 (4.4 lb/ft3); processing is economical and is readily scalable to 2 x 2 x 12" thick flat and curved shapes. The material has a thermal conductivity of only 0.25 W/m K at 2000degreesF and 0.8 W/m K at 3600degreesF, and has demonstrated the ability to maintain large thermal gradients for extended periods. Equally as important for hypersonic vehicle applications, the foam/aerogel insulator has a use temperature approaching 4000degreesF, nearly 1000degreesF greater than conventional oxide-based insulators. The previous work has focused on enclosing the insulator within a free-standing structural shell. The potential exists to increase the strength and stiffness of the foam reinforcement such that it can be integrated with a carbon-based aeroshell, creating a load-bearing sandwich structure, while still maintaining acceptable density and thermal conductivity. In this project, Ultramet will team with Materials Research & Design (MR&D) for thermal-mechanical modeling and attachment design methodologies, and Ocellus for aerogel insulation processing, to develop and demonstrate a sandwich panel core insulator.

Principal Investigator:

Victor M. Arrieta
Senior Research Engineer
8188990236
victor.arrieta@ultramet.com

Business Contact:

Craig N. Ward
Engineering Administrative Manager
8188990236
craig.ward@ultramet.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

ULTRAMET
12173 Montague Street Pacoima, CA 91331

EIN/Tax ID: 952662293
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No