Chinese scientists have developed ultra-resistant carbide ceramics for hypersonic technology

 

Hypersonic vehicles must withstand enormous temperature loads, but most metal alloys begin to break down at 1000 °C. The carbide ceramics created by Chinese scientists can withstand up to 3,600 degrees in an oxidizing environment, much more than is required today for hypersonic flights. Potential applications of the material include aerospace engineering, weapons systems, and even semiconductor lithography, where it can protect components from plasma radiation.

"Our team is the first in the world to cross this long—standing boundary thanks to highly entropic multicomponent design," said Chu Yanhui, professor at South China University of Technology. "The carbide ceramics we developed, consisting of elements such as hafnium, tantalum, zirconium and tungsten, demonstrates a significantly lower oxidation rate at 3,600 degrees Celsius under laser irradiation than any previously reported materials."

The world's leading space powers are striving to improve the capabilities of their hypersonic aircraft and weapons. The new technology allows a launch vehicle or projectile to reach anywhere in the world in less than an hour. In fact, Chinese scientists claim to have developed a weapon that can hit anywhere on the planet in just 30 minutes.

According to the scientists, the impressive characteristics of the material are due to its unique structure of the oxide layer. One of the most important components is a tungsten—based frame filled with oxides of other elements. These oxides protect the tungsten from further oxidation and serve as a barrier, preventing oxygen from entering the material.

The researchers were able to accelerate the development of the material using a laser testing platform. Typically, such materials undergo a long phase of testing in a wind tunnel. Laser testing allows you to observe and analyze samples during heating to about 3800 °C.

According to the developers, the new carbide ceramics "can be used directly as an external protective layer of spacecraft or in energy systems to resist direct exposure to high temperatures." The ceramic base can be made of composites or used as a coating.

The effectiveness of any vehicle flying at high speed is limited by its ability to withstand thermal stress. Last year, Canopy Aerospace signed a contract with the US Air Force to develop a thermal protection system for hypersonic missiles and atmospheric entry systems.