Project Background
SMARF is working under a grant from NASA to develop a high temperature, insulated honeycomb panel. Although low-temperature, insulated honeycomb panels are commercially available from Hexcel (www.hexcel.com) and other manufacturers, SMARF intends to demonstrate a design capable of repeated exposure to 2200 °F that will not deteriorate for use on future spacecraft.
This insulated honeycomb may be useful in the Structurally Integrated Thermal Protection System (SITPS) now under development at NASA to protect spacecraft upon reentry into the Earth’s atmosphere. The current SITPS design uses a homogenous ceramic material known as Alumina Enhanced Thermal Barrier in an 8.0 lb/ft3 density (AETB-8). This is a very impressive material because it combines low density, high temperature capability, low thermal conductivity and acceptable mechanical properties. However, data indicates that a honeycomb structure could be even more efficient than AETB-8 in the SITPS application.
The benefit that will result from the completion of this project will be more efficient weight, heat prevention, and safety of hypersonic vehicles.