ADVANCED HIGH TEMPERATURE VALVE & MANIFOLD CONCEPTS, MATERIALS & FABRICATION TECHNOLOGIES

Renium is the current materials of choice for hot gas valves, but is expensive, heavy and limited by its strength to temperatures below 3500 degrees F. Ceramics, such as the diborides of zirconium and hafnium, are much lighter, and have a 900 degree F advantage over rhenium in strength. Present methods of manufacture of ceramics are based on hot pressing of powders to make blanks from which shapes can be machined. A low cost method to make complex shapes is proposed. Prior work at Hi-Z Technology, Inc., has demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed processes. The processes will be optimized using simple buttons and short lengths of tubing. A Phase I option is proposed to establish joining methods that will be required to incorporate diboride-based materials into motor hardware.