Ultra-High Temperature Ceramic Coatings for Hypersonic and Space Applications

The next generation of hypersonic crafts will revolutionize air and space travel. However, these vehicles will encounter severe environments in operation, especially extreme temperatures. Thermal protection system coatings that can withstand the high temperatures experienced and rapidly conduct heat away from at-risk regions provide the required protection to allow these craft to sustain extreme hypersonic velocities. Refractory boride materials and silicon carbide were investigated as candidate materials for such coatings. Coatings were deposited using the plasma spray technique and inspected in an effort to produce thermal protection system coatings capable of protecting the next generation of hypersonic craft.