| Description |
This is a collaborative project in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at astrospace applications. The outcome should be more efficient equipment for both launch and in-orbit missions of the next generation of spacecrafts, and reduced time and cost of manufacture. Applications could include engines and thrusters, as well as mechanisms for handling mission equipment and payloads, ultra-stable structures, mirrors, gears and bearings, telescopes, detectors, optical elements, nozzles and valves, and damping structures.
The use of powder metallurgy, namely Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) or Uniaxial Hot Pressing (UHP), for astrospace applications would have numerous advantages. It can produce near net shape parts, which makes it possible to avoid imperfections and defects associated with machining process. Powder metallurgy also leads to a fine microstructure in metals and it can enhance the strength of the material. Moreover, it would create an opportunity to produce complex parts with a variety of properties, such as a softer core with a harder surface.
The University of Birmingham works to develop and test suitable PM-based materials for this application.
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| Key partners |
ESA, Airbus, TWI, Airbus Defence and Space, Nammo Westcott Ltd, ESR Technology
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