Ultra High Temperature Ceramics as Thermal Protection System of Space Re-entry Vehicle

Abstract

The objective of the research work is to afford the real applicability of UHTC materials to the manufacturing of new advanced hot structures designed for space applications providing, at the same time, non conventional characterization procedures specifically aimed at UHTC materials. Also objective of the work is to characterize UHTC compositions mainly based upon ZrB2, and, where possible, to propose provisional models for the oxidation behaviour of this material under different operating conditions.