Silicon carbide electronics are expected to play a role in future space missions to hot celestial bodies, such as Venus and the sun. A new study by researchers at NASA Glenn Research Center investigated the electrical properties of several ceramic and glass packaging materials to determine which would best protect silicon carbide electronics at temperatures of more than 800°C.
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Thermal barrier coatings protect engine components from extreme heat, but they can be damaged by the dust that gets sucked in and turned into molten glass. Previous studies found yttria-stabilized zirconia coatings doped with alumina and titania demonstrated improved corrosion resistance against this molten glass. Now, researchers in Turkey explored whether these additives could improve the resistance of ceria-stabilized coatings as well.
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Dust mitigation is a priority for space agencies to prevent damage to equipment during surface missions on the moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and NASA Langley Research Center used laser ablation to pattern two ceramics with hydrophobic surfaces, which led to a reduction in the adhesion of simulated lunar dust.
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Materials are not the only challenge to carrying out a successful space mission—the toll on a crew’s cognitive and physical performance must also be anticipated. In June 2023, NASA announced the start of its first year-long simulated Mars surface mission, which will take place within a 3D-printed concrete habitat.
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To celebrate the milestone of the 20th volume of the International Journal of Applied Ceramic Technology, the editorial team assembled a selection of journal papers representing the excellent work from the advanced ceramics community. The focus this month is thermal and environmental barrier coatings.
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The idea of harvesting solar energy in outer space and beaming it back to Earth is a science-fiction concept that in recent decades gained real-world legs. Now, the California Institute of Technology announced that an experiment through its ongoing Space Solar Power Project beamed solar energy collected in space back to Earth for the first time.
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Though the presence of water on the moon is a well-confirmed fact, the origins of this water and its distribution on the lunar surface remain largely unknown. Thanks to new lunar samples brought back by the Chinese Chang’e 5 lunar exploration mission, researchers now know that impact glass beads appear to play a significant role in the lunar surface water cycle.
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Though ceramic matrix composites for aircraft have entered commercial operation, there still are some knowledge gaps regarding the oxidation of these materials. Two researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, conducted an experiment on internal CMC oxidation that provided new insights into the oxidation processes and highlighted deficiencies in the current standard oxidation model.
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To achieve manned missions to Mars, spacecraft will need to maximize fuel usage. Nuclear thermal propulsion is one technology actively on NASA’s radar. In a recent study, researchers from Missouri S&T and NASA Marshall used a surrogate material to explore the thermal properties of a cermet fuel that may be used in future nuclear propulsion systems.
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The December 2022 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring an overview of ceramics and glass used in space travel and exploration—is now available online. Plus—new C&GM and ceramicSOURCE 2023.
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