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Design, analysis, and fabrication of oxide-coated iridium/rhenium combustion chambersIridium-coated rhenium (Ir/Re) combustion chambers provide high temperature, oxidation-resistant operation for radiation-cooled liquid-fueled rocket engines. A 22-N (5-lb(sub f)) chamber has been operated for 15 hours at 2200 C (4000 F) using nitrogen tetroxide/monomethyl hydrazine (NTO/MMH) propellant, with negligible internal erosion. The oxidation resistance of these chambers could be further increased by the addition of refractory oxide coatings, providing longer life and/or operation in more oxidizing and higher temperature environments. The oxide coatings would serve as a thermal and diffusion barrier for the iridium coating, lowering the temperature of the iridium layer while also preventing the ingress of oxygen and egress of iridium oxides. This would serve to slow the failure mechanisms of Ir/Re chambers, namely the diffusion of rhenium to the inner surface and the oxidation of iridium. Such protection could extend chamber lifetimes by tens or perhaps hundreds of hours, and allow chamber operation on stoichiometric or higher mixture ratio oxygen/hydrogen (O2/H2) propellant. Extensive thermomechanical, thermochemical, and mass transport modeling was performed as a key material/structure design tool. Based on the results of these analyses, several 22-N oxide-coated Ir/Re chambers were fabricated and delivered to NASA Lewis Research Center for hot-fire testing.
Document ID
19950009932
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Jang, Q.
(Ultramet Co. Pacoima, CA, United States)
Tuffias, R. H.
(Ultramet Co. Pacoima, CA, United States)
Laferla, R.
(Ultramet Co. Pacoima, CA, United States)
Ghoniem, N. M.
(Ultramet Co. Pacoima, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
November 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: JHU, The 1993 JANNAF Propulsion Meeting, Volume 2
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Accession Number
95N16347
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS3-26253
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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