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High Strength and Compatible Aluminum Alloy for Hydrogen-Peroxide Fuel TanksThis paper describes the development of a new high strength and Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) propellant compatible aluminum alloy for NASA Hyper-X vehicle's fuel tanks and structures. The tensile strength of the new alloy is more than 3 times stronger than the conventional 5254 alloy while it still maintains HP compatibility similar to 5254 (Class 1 category). The alloy development strategy consists of selecting certain rare earth and transition metals, with unique electrochemical properties, that will not act as catalysts to decompose liquid HP at the atomic level. Such elements will added to the aluminum alloy and the mixture will be cast and rolled into thin sheet metals. Test coupons are machined from sheet metals for HP long-term exposure testing and mechanical properties testing. In addition, the ability to weld the new alloy using Friction Stir Welding has also been explored. Currently, aluminum alloy 5254 is the state-of-the-art material for HP storage, but its yield strength is very low (420 ksi) and may not be suitable for the development of light-weight fuel tanks for Hyper-X vehicles. The new high strength and HP compatible alloy could represent an enabling material technology for NASA's Hyper-X vehicles, where flight weight reduction is a critical requirement. These X-planes are currently under studied as air-breathing hypersonic research vehicles featuring a lifting body configuration with a Rocket Based Combined Cycle (RBCC) engine system.
Document ID
20040075685
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lee, Jonathan A.
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2004
Subject Category
Composite Materials
Meeting Information
Meeting: 52nd JANNAF Propulsion Meeting/1st Liquid Propulsion Subcommittee
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Country: United States
Start Date: May 10, 2004
End Date: May 13, 2004
Sponsors: Department of the Air Force, Department of the Army, NASA Headquarters, Department of the Navy
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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