SBIR 95-1 SOLICITATION

PROJECT SUMMARY

Proposal Number:

15.01-6651

Project Title:

HEAT PIPES FOR MATERIAL PROCESSING AT 2000 C

Technical Abstract:

Heat pipes have been successfully used to control thermal environments involved in materials processing experiments and crystal growth at temperatures up to about 1500oC. Numerous materials processing applications exist which could benefit from heat pipes capable of operating at 2000oC and above. These include the formulation and fabrication of exotic ceramics and metal alloys as well as the measurement of thermophysical properties of certain semiconductor materials in the 2000oC range. Although a limited number of tests have been performed, initial life test data generated in the 1960's indicates that tungsten/silver heat pipes may be well suited for thousands of hours of operation at 2000C. Tungsten however, is extremely brittle and ill-suited for use in a material processing laboratory where equipment is required to be both flexible and serviceable.The proposed Phase I program will begin the investigation of issues critical to the successful fabrication of heat pipes for operation at 2000oC and above. The program will result in the selection and initial investigation of useful alloys and fabrication techniques for development of these potentially important thermal management tools.

Potential Commercial Applications:

The proposed program (Phase I and Phase II) will develop and demonstrate robust, long-lived heat pipes operating at 2000oC and above for application in advanced materials processing laboratories. In Phase III, Thermacore and Dynatherm (a sister company) intend to commercialize the tungsten-silver isothermal furnace liners, extending the temperature range of our existing line of commercial furnace liners.

Name and Address of Offeror:

Thermacore
780 Eden Road
Lancaster, PA 17601