Application of reaction sintering to the manufacturing of a spacecraft combustion chamber of SiC ceramics

The method of reaction sintering was applied to the manufacturing of a spacecraft combustion chamber of SiC ceramics. Physical and mechanical experiments such as bending strength, coefficient of thermal expansion, coefficient of thermal conductivity, gas-tight property, heat-resisting property, etc., have been carried out. The results show that a spacecraft combustion chamber made from the reaction sintering of SiC ceramics is feasible, and that the results of experiment are satisfactory. The strength of high-temperature structural parts made by reaction sintered SiC ceramics varied with the silicon content; the optimum silicon content being 10.5% for the part investigated. The method of the reaction sintering SiC ceramics is suitable for the manufacturing of complicated spacecraft parts with a working temperature of 1500 degreesC. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.