HfB2-SiC Materials for Sharp Leading Edges

Future reentry vehicles will need better maneuverability to improve safety and performance. Vehicles with sharp leading edges, as opposed to the blunt nose and leading edges on the current space shuttle, can provide improved lift-to-drag and thus improved maneuverability. Materials capable of operating at temperatures in excess of 2000 C are required. Ultrahigh temperature ceramics (UHTCs) are one class of material being investigated for this application. These materials are diborides of hafnium or zirconium with a second phase of sic. The benefits of using these materials will be discussed as developments in the processing of HfB2/SiC.