NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) Forming of Solar Thermal Propulsion Components Using Refractory MetalsThe Thermal Spray Laboratory at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center has developed and demonstrated a fabrication technique using Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) to form structural components from a tungsten/rhenium alloy. The components were assembled into an absorption cavity for a fully-functioning, ground test unit of a solar thermal propulsion engine. The VPS process deposits refractory metal onto a graphite mandrel of the desired shape. The mandrel acts as a male mold, forming the required contour and dimensions of the inside surface of the deposit. Tungsten and tungsten/25% rhenium were used in the development and production of several absorber cavity components. These materials were selected for their high temperature (less than 2500 C) strength. Each absorber cavity comprises 3 coaxial shells with two, double-helical flow passages through which the propellant gas flows. This paper describes the processing techniques, design considerations, and process development associated with forming these engine components.
Document ID
19990106244
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Zimmerman, Frank
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Gerish, Harold
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Davis, William
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Hissam, D. Andy
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
October 13, 1998
Subject Category
Metallic Materials
Meeting Information
Meeting: National Thermal Spray
Location: Chicago, IL
Country: United States
Start Date: October 13, 1998
Sponsors: American Society for Metals
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

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