The Office of Naval Research HTMS Program seeks to develop materials, structures and computational tools leading to the development of expendable systems that can operate at more than 2500 degrees Celcius without erosion. Leading-edge and engine materials must maintain shape stability for maximum component performance at high temperatures in oxidizing, high-shear environments, extreme thermal shock and applied pressure loads up to 40,000 G. Primary application area is naval hypersonics technologies, including advanced missile systems and electromagnetic railgun projectiles.
The HTMS program also seeks to develop high-temperature structural insulator materials that mechanically support and thermally isolate internal systems—such as sensors, guidance mechanisms, and weapons payload—from the high heat loads generated by burning fuel, propellant and aerothermal heating during the launch, fire and re-entry of advanced naval weapons systems.
The exposure time of these systems will require lifetimes of up to several minutes at extreme temperatures. The insulators will need to exhibit low thermal diffusivity, high strength and high temperature capability. Thus, the objective of the materials science task will be to develop a fundamental understanding of potential relationships between temperature capability, thermal properties and structural behavior. Critical research will explore how to maintain thermal resistance at high temperature while maintaining adequate mechanical properties.
In these programs, the importance of understanding the fundamental relationships between composition, microstructure and physical response (thermal and mechanical) at the micro- and mesoscale is of high importance. The characterization and high-temperature testing of advanced materials—as well as the potential for low-cost manufacturing techniques—will drive the evaluation process. The program focuses on developing new materials, or improving existing materials, based on a strong understanding of thermochemical and thermostructural response of materials in extreme environments.