Thermal management

Vacuum plasma spraying: A different way to apply UHTC coatings

By Lisa McDonald / April 5, 2019

Ultra-high temperature ceramic coatings are conventionally applied to composites using chemical vapor deposition. In a recent study, researchers from Korea experimented with applying UHTC coatings using a vacuum plasma spray process instead.

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Achieving optimal thermal insulators: A review on progress creating highly porous rare-earth silicates

By Lisa McDonald / March 15, 2019

In a recent review article, ACerS director Jingyang Wang and colleagues take a look at progress on optimal processing and properties of highly porous rare-earth silicate thermal insulators.

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Keep Mars rovers warm with durable, lightweight ceramic aerogels

By Lisa McDonald / March 5, 2019

A new highly durable ceramic aerogel created by an international research collaboration can better withstand extreme temperatures than current ceramic aerogels—making it ideal insulation for future space missions.

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All-season athletic apparel? Carbon nanotube-coated textile cools when you’re warm and warms when you’re cool

By April Gocha / February 22, 2019

Researchers at University of Maryland reported they developed a carbon-nanotube-coated fabric that is the first of its kind to seamlessly transition between keeping you warm in the cold and cool in the heat—by automatically reacting to body physiology.

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Nanoparticles lower thermal shock stress for ceramics at extreme temperatures

By Faye Oney / September 4, 2018

Researchers have succeeded in reducing heat transfer of ceramics at extreme temperatures. A simple coating of nanoparticles on a ceramic surface was all that was needed to reduce thermal shock and maintain strength of the ceramic material.

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Video: This is why NASA’s Solar Probe will stay intact when it reaches the sun

By Faye Oney / July 25, 2018

NASA Goddard will launch its Parker Solar Probe in early August on a mission to study the mysteries of the sun. Watch today’s video to learn how engineers have designed the Solar Probe to withstand the sun’s intense heat.

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US Department of Energy funds $106 million in new energy projects

By Faye Oney / June 1, 2018

The U.S. Department of Energy recently earmarked approximately $106 million for two new energy projects: High-temperature concentrating solar power technology, and Small business research and development grants.

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Sintering smaller grains to build stronger ceramics

By April Gocha / May 8, 2018

Researchers at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory have hit a new low—while their previous work with environmentally controlled pressure assisted sintering achieved grain sizes as small as 28 nm, they now report grain sizes of just 3.6 nm.

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Collaboration between Air Force Research Lab and HRL Labs could bring additively manufactured ceramics to hypersonic travel

By April Gocha / April 10, 2018

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate recently announced that it is working together with HRL Laboratories to additively manufacture high-temperature ceramic materials that are well-suited for hypersonic aircraft.

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Additive manufacturing reaches new dimensions for bulk metallic glasses

By April Gocha / March 30, 2018

Researchers at North Carolina State University (Raleigh, N.C.) have now broken the critical casting thickness—the previous maximum possible size—for fabricating bulk metallic glass by using laser-based powder bed additive manufacturing.

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