Revolutionary 5000F Zero-Erosion Super-Insulating TPS Materials for DOD Weapon Systems

In this DARPA Phase I SBIR program, MATECH/GSM proposes to demonstrate its revolutionary low cost, high temperature ceramic fiber and fiber processing technologies for non ablative structural TPS systems. These TPS systems will be required for the next generation of high supersonic vehicles, such as RATTLRS and hypersonic vehicles such as Black Swift. For long duration sustained flight, thermal management becomes a critical design issue in addition to bending stiffness and thermal shock. Traditional organic composites are not suitable for sustained temperatures at high supersonic speeds. Non ablative high temperature materials must be developed to enable the next generation of sustained ultra high speed vehicles. MATECH/GSM (MG) has developed novel, low cost preceramic polymers and processing technologies for producing ceramic fibers and formed ceramic fiber components. These ceramic fibers, depending on preceramic polymer chemistry, offer service temperatures ranging from 2400°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.