Lightweight Thermally Protective Integrated Missile Airframe Composite

In this MDA Phase I SBIR program, MATECH/GSM (MG) proposes to demonstrate its revolutionary low cost, high temperature ceramic fiber and fiber processing technologies for non ablative structural TPS systems for the next generation of high supersonic missiles. Through prior SBIR programs, MG has developed novel, low cost preceramic polymers and processing technologies for producing SiOC and ZrOC ceramic fibers and formed ceramic fiber components. These ceramic fibers, depending on preceramic polymer chemistry, offer service temperatures ranging from 2550°F to 5000°F and can be formed both before and after pyrolysis into structural insulative shapes suitable for nose cones, fin leading edges, and fuselage body structural insulation systems. This new technology offers a promising new method for solving TPS issues on high supersonic vehicles.