Plasma Torch Test of an Ultra-High-Temperature Ceramics Nose Cone Demonstrator

Abstract

An ultra-high-temperatureZrB2–SiC ceramic nose cone was tested in an arcjet plasma torch facility for 10min at temperatures above 2000 C. The nose cone model was obtained from a hot-pressed billet via electrical discharge machining.The relevant portions of themodels directly exposed to the hot streamwere analyzedby scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The posttest cross sectioning of the model showed a nonnegligible surface recession on the tip of the nose. Nonetheless, the material exhibited a promising potential to withstand severe reentry conditions with temperatures exceeding 2000 C in a single-use application. Spectral directional emissivity evaluationswere performed on the fly during the test bymeans of thermography coupledwith dual-color pyrometer. The numerical calculations, which simulated the chemical nonequilibrium flow around the model assuming a low catalytic surface behavior, are in good accordance with the experimental results.