Various technology programmes in Europe are concerned with preparing for future propulsion
technologies to reduce the costs and increase the life time of components for liquid rocket engine
components. One of the key roles to fulfil the future requirements and for realizing reusable and
robust engine components is the use of modern and innovative materials. One of the key
technologies which concern various engine manufacturers worldwide is the development of fibrereinforced
ceramics – CMC's (Ceramic Matrix Composites). The advantages for the developers are
obvious – the low specific weight, the high specific strength over a large temperature range, and
their good damage tolerance compared to monolithic ceramics make this material class extremely
interesting as a construction material.
Different kind of composite materials are available and produced by EADS ST, the standard
material SICARBON® (C/SiC made by Liquid Polymer Infiltration) and the new developed and
qualified composite materials SICTEX® (C/SiC made by Liquid Silicon Infiltration) and
CARBOTEX® (C/C made by Rapid Chemical Vapour Infiltration). The composites are based on
textile techniques like weaving, braiding, stiching and sewing to produce multiaxial preforms, the
SICTEX® material is densificated by the cost effective Liquid Silicon Infiltration (LSI).
Over the past years, EADS Space Transportation (formerly DASA) has, together with various
partners, worked intensively on developing components for airbreathing and liquid rocket engines.
Since this, various prototype developments and hot firing-tests with nozzle extensions for upper and
core stage engines and combustion chambers of satellite engines were conducted. MBDA France
and EADS-ST have been working on the development of fuel-cooled composite structures like
combustion chambers and nozzle extensions for future propulsion applications.
Flame response to high-frequency oscillations in a cryogenic oxygen/hydrogen rocket combustor
