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Low-Erosion, Light-Weight Rhenium Graphite Composites for SDACS

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
N/A 		Award ID:
 Program Year/Program:
2011 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number:
B103-019-0442 		Solicitation Year:
2010 		Solicitation Topic Code:
MDA10-019 		Solicitation Number:
2010.3
Small Business Information
Plasma Processes, LLC
4914 Moores Mill Road Huntsville, AL -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2011
Title: Low-Erosion, Light-Weight Rhenium Graphite Composites for SDACS
Agency: DOD
Contract: HQ0147-11-C-7584
Award Amount: $100,000.00
 

Abstract:

Rhenium is the current material of choice for several critical valve components in a solid divert and attitude control system (DACS) due to its erosion resistance, high-temperature strength, and compatibility with propellant exhaust products. However, bulk rhenium is disadvantaged by being expensive and extremely dense. In order to reduce cost and weight of rhenium DACS components, a different approach must be considered. Rhenium-coated graphite can offer both superior erosion resistance and strength while reducing component cost and weight. During this Phase 1 investigation, PPI will team with ATK to design a nozzle/pintle combination based on rhenium-coated graphite. Using PPI"s innovative EL-Form technique, rhenium will be electrochemically deposited onto a graphite nozzle/pintle combination. Process parameters will be optimized to ensure a uniform coating is produced on all graphite surfaces. The optimized parameters will be used to produce a nozzle that will then be hot gas tested at ATK"s facility. During Phase II, the processing parameters will be further optimized with an emphasis on multi-component processing to reduce component costs. Re-coated graphite nozzle/pintle components will then be fabricated and hot fire tested in ATK"s DACS. A key target acquisition for this technology will be the SM-3 Block IIB DACS.

Principal Investigator:

Anatoliy Shchetkovskiy
El-Form Manager
(256) 851-7653
ashchetkovskiy@plasmapros.com

Business Contact:

Timothy N. McKechnie
President/Senior Materials Engineer
(256) 851-7653
timmck@plasmapros.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Plasma Processes, Inc.
4914 Moores Mill Road Huntsville, AL -

EIN/Tax ID: 631100320
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No