SBIR Phase I: Re-enforced Hollow Silicon Carbide Shells

这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段项目专注于开发增强碳化硅空心球的研究。这项工作将应用其专有中空球体生产工艺的改进版本，并结合新材料。将实现的中空球结构产生的新特征包括：单个松散空心球的低成本批量生产、均匀的形状、统一的尺寸、尺寸稳定性和低表观密度。此外，空心球还将具有碳化硅的重要结构和热特性，包括极高的硬度、高导热系数、低热膨胀系数、耐热震、高耐磨性、高熔点和高抗其他材料引起的氧化或腐蚀。这些中空球最终将被用来形成连续的复杂网络形状。该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力将是以前不可能获得的轻质、高强度、高温材料结构的可用性。碳化硅空心球具有高性能应用的商业潜力，特别是在超音速和高超声速飞机、航天器和导弹中的净形超结构。这些材料在高温环境中有特殊的应用，如空间再入飞行器的外表面、燃烧室内，以及喷气发动机、火箭发动机和发电机的喷嘴。碳化硅空心球的应用包括隔热、抗冲击(装甲)、催化剂载体、金属和气体过滤、汽车热机和机械密封。在这个项目中产生的关于碳化硅的知识也可以转移到其他相关材料上，如碳化硼。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project is focused on research to develop reinforced silicon carbide hollow spheres. This effort will apply a modified version of its proprietary hollow sphere production process in combination with novel materials. Novel characteristics resulting from the hollow sphere structure to be realized include: low cost bulk production of individual loose hollow spheres, uniform shape, uniform dimensions, dimensional stability, and low apparent density. Additionally, the hollow spheres will possess the important structural and thermal characteristics of silicon carbide including extreme hardness, high thermal conductivity, low thermal expansion coefficient, thermal shock resistance, high abrasion resistance, high melting point, and high resistance to oxidation or corrosion caused by other materials. These hollow spheres will ultimately be used to form continuous complex net shapes. The broader impact/commercial potential of this project will be the availability of lightweight, high-strength, high-temperature material structures not previously possible. Hollow silicon carbide spheres have commercial potential for high-performance applications, especially for net shape superstructures in supersonic and hypersonic aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles. These materials find specific applications in high-temperature environments, such as the exterior surfaces of space reentry vehicles, inside combustion chambers, and as nozzles in jet engines, rocket engines, and power generators. Hollow silicon carbide spheres have applications that include thermal insulation, impact absorption (armor), catalyst support, metal and gas filtration, automotive heat engines, and mechanical seals. The knowledge generated about silicon carbide during this project can also be transferred to other related materials such as boron carbide.