NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Robust Low Cost Liquid Rocket Combustion Chamber by Advanced Vacuum Plasma ProcessNext-generation, regeneratively cooled rocket engines require materials that can meet high temperatures while resisting the corrosive oxidation-reduction reaction of combustion known as blanching, the main cause of engine failure. A project was initiated at NASA-Marshal Space Flight Center (MSFC) to combine three existing technologies to build and demonstrate an advanced liquid rocket engine combustion chamber that would provide a 100 mission life. Technology developed in microgravity research to build cartridges for space furnaces was utilized to vacuum plasma spray (VPS) a functional gradient coating on the hot wall of the combustion liner as one continuous operation, eliminating any bondline between the coating and the liner. The coating was NiCrAlY, developed previously as durable protective coatings on space shuttle high pressure fuel turbopump (HPFTP) turbine blades. A thermal model showed that 0.03 in. NiCrAlY applied to the hot wall of the combustion liner would reduce the hot wall temperature 200 F, a 20% reduction, for longer life. Cu-8Cr-4Nb alloy, which was developed by NASA-Glenn Research Center (GRC), and which possesses excellent high temperature strength, creep resistance, and low cycle fatigue behavior combined with exceptional thermal stability, was utilized as the liner material in place of NARloy-Z. The Cu-8Cr-4Nb material exhibits better mechanical properties at 650 C (1200 F) than NARloy-Z does at 538 C (1000 F). VPS formed Cu-8Cr-4Nb combustion chamber liners with a protective NiCrAlY functional gradient coating have been hot fire tested, successfully demonstrating a durable coating for the first time. Hot fire tests along with tensile and low cycle fatigue properties of the VPS formed combustion chamber liners and witness panel specimens are discussed.
Document ID
20020048291
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Holmes, Richard
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Elam, Sandra
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
McKechnie, Timothy
(Plasma Processes, Inc. Huntsville, AL United States)
Hickman, Robert
(Plasma Processes, Inc. Huntsville, AL United States)
Stinson, Thomas N.
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2002
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: 39th Space Congress
Location: Cocoa Beach, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: April 29, 2002
End Date: May 2, 2002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available