Ceramic Matrix Composite Thermal Protection Systems
topic
Ceramic matrix composites for thermal protection systems in space re-entry vehicles and hypersonic aircraft combine SiC or carbon fibre reinforcement in SiC, carbon, or oxide ceramic matrices produced by chemical vapour infiltration or polymer infiltration and pyrolysis, providing structural integrity combined with surface emissivity above 0.85 that radiates aerodynamic heating away from underlying structure at surface temperatures exceeding 1600 degrees Celsius.
Role
Enables reusable hypersonic vehicle and spacecraft thermal protection systems with lower weight, higher temperature capability, and better structural properties than conventional ceramic tile systems, supporting development of fully reusable space access vehicles and hypersonic cruise missiles where thermal protection system mass fraction and reusability directly determine mission economics and military capability.