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Glenn Research Center 

High Temperature Oxidation-Barrier Coatings fro Refractory Metals 

Electroformed Nickel, Inc.  

Huntsville, AL 
 

Electrodeposited iridium as a high density coating to prevent oxidation of the refractory substrate and insure long life in severe thermal environments

• Using the iridium coating over rhenium substrates prototype  radiation cooled attitude control thrust engines, such as would be employed in satellites for maneuvering   accumulated hot firing cycle life to 14 hours at 3400ºF, has  been demonstrated by NASA Glenn Research Center

• Sales to date have totaled $107K
• A strategic alliance has been formed between  Rhenium  Alloys Inc. (to supply rhenium chambers by an improved  powder metallurgy process), Electroformed Nickel, Inc. (to  provide a high integrity iridium oxidation barrier coating),  and TRW (to design, qualify and market the product)
• A full time engineer has been added to the professional  staff to manage the new coating process
• TRW anticipates a widespread use of this process in a  product aimed at world-wide commercial satellite customers
 

• USAF Phillips Laboratories has shown an interest in this coating process for rocket nozzle inserts to extend the life and range of missile devices.  Such an insert was    fabricated and successfully fired by Edwards AFB
• Interest in these coatings has also been expressed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories
 

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Curator: SBIR Support