High Chamber Pressure, Light Weight Thrusters

Award Information

Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration	Branch: N/A	Award ID: 95580	Program Year/Program: 2010 / SBIR
Agency Tracking Number: 094826	Solicitation Year: N/A	Solicitation Topic Code: S3	Solicitation Number: N/A

Small Business Information: Plasma Processes, LLC
4914 Moores Mill Road Huntsville, AL -
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Woman-Owned: No

Minority-Owned: No

HUBZone-Owned: No

Phase 1: Fiscal Year: 2010

Title: High Chamber Pressure, Light Weight Thrusters

Agency: NASA

Contract: NNX10CF23P

Award Amount: $100,000.00

Abstract:
The performance liquid propellant engines can be significantly improved by increasing both combustion temperature and pressure and reducing engine weight. State of the art Bi-propellant engines are metallic; the highest temperature combustion chambers are made of iridium/rhenium metals. Utilizing carbon-carbon composites for thrust chamber structures can reduce component weight by as much as 90%. Unfortunately carbon composites suffer from unacceptably high oxidation rates. Lining carbon-carbon chambers with a thin layer of iridium or iridium/rhenium is an innovative way to provide the oxidation barrier necessary to enable the use of carbon-carbon composites. This proposal evaluates using metal-lined carbon-carbon to produce high pressure, light weight thrust chambers.

Principal Investigator:
Tim N. McKechnie
Principal Investigator
2568517653
timmck@plasmapros.com

Business Contact:
Timothy N. McKechnie
President
2568517653
timmck@plasmapros.com

Small Business Information at Submission:

Plasma Processes, LLC.
4914 Moores Mill Road Huntsville, AL 35811

EIN/Tax ID: 273812665

DUNS: N/A

Number of Employees:

Woman-Owned: No

Minority-Owned: No

HUBZone-Owned: No