Evaluation of RSI Materials

Novel attachment and strain-measuring techniques were developed to obtain valid mechanical and thermophysical property data to above 1530 K in air on nonmetallic insulators and their coatings. The lever-arm extensometer developed used for measuring thermal and/or mechanical strain. Thermal expansion measurements were made on a tensile load to define their softening points. Creep characteristics of the insulators were monitored at elevated temperatures and found to become significant above 1090 K (1500 F).