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Vacuum Plasma Spray (VPS) Material Applications for Thruster ComponentsA variety of vacuum plasma spray (VPS) material systems have been successfully applied to injector and thrust chamber components. VPS offers a versatile fabrication process with relatively low costs to produce near net shape parts. The materials available with VPS increase operating margins and improve component life by providing superior thermal and oxidation protection in specific engine environments. Functional gradient materials (FGM) formed with VPS allow thrust chamber liners to be fabricated with GRCop-84 (an alloy of copper, chrome, and niobium) and a protective layer of NiCrAlY on the hot wall. A variety of thrust chamber liner designs have been fabricated to demonstrate the versatility of the process. Hot-fire test results have confined the improved durability and high temperature performance of the material systems for thrust chamber liners. Similar FGM s have been applied to provide superior thermal protection on injector faceplates with NiCrAlY and zirconia coatings. The durability of the applied materials has been demonstrated with hot-fire cycle testing on injector faceplates in high temperature environments. The material systems can benefit the components used in booster and main engine propulsion systems. More recent VPS efforts are focused on producing rhenium based material systems for high temperature applications to benefit in-space engines like reaction control system (RCS) thrusters.
Document ID
20060025086
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Elam, Sandra
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Holmes, Richard
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Hickman, Robert
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
August 23, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2006
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Meeting Information
Meeting: National Space and Missile Materials Symposium
Location: Orlando, FL
Country: United States
Start Date: June 26, 2006
End Date: June 30, 2006
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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