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IPFS News Link • Science, Medicine and Technology

Carbon nanotubes key to next-gen heat shields for hypersonic aircraft

11-23-2019 • arclein

Heat shields made of phenol plastics have been around since the 1950s. Known as ablative heat shields, these protect a returning spacecraft by burning away in layers, carrying away the excess heat. Unfortunately, these shields are bulky, inflexible, and have to be replaced after a single use. In the 1970s, the US Space Shuttle used a ceramic heat shield that absorbed and re-radiated heat to protect the craft. These tiles could be reused, but they were still bulky, rigid, and brittle as well.

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Reported By robert klein

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