Ultra-High-Temperature Hafnium Carbide CMCs for DACS Thrusters

In this MDA Phase I SBIR Proposal, MATECH/GSM will develop ultra-high-temperature (UHT) HfC-based thruster technology for solid/liquid interceptor DACS components for atmospheric/exo-atmospheric use. These thrusters are based upon erosion and oxidation resistant C(f)/HfC(m) and HfC(f)/HfC(m) CMCs. These material systems have only become recently available. Unlike conventional carbon/carbon CMC thrusters, which erode relatively rapidly, carbon/HfC CMCs are more erosion resistant due to the substantially harder HfC matrix phase. Alternative refractory metal-based thrusters, composed of rhenium alloy, for example, are temperature limited due to their softness as they approach their melting temperatures. The stringent system requirements of this topic will be met with the active participation and design leadership of our partners ATK Elkton (solids) , Aerojet (solids), and Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne (liquids), all of whom possess decades of experience in missile rocket thruster design and manufacturing. Also participating in this program is Messier-Bugatti USA, America’s leading carbon-carbon aircraft brake manufacturer.