Re: Carbon-carbon is...?

From: Paul F. Dietz (dietz_at_dls.net)
Date: 12/26/04 

Date: Sun, 26 Dec 2004 16:27:53 -0600
To: sci-space-tech@moderators.isc.org

Len Lekx wrote:
> Just out of curiosity...
>
> What is the carbon-carbon heat shielding on the leading edges and
> nose of the Shuttle composed of? I'm assuming that part of it is a
> grahpite-fiber cloth material, but is it embedded in a ceramic
> material, or a high-temperature epoxy?
>

Carbon-carbon is a composite made of carbon fibers embedded in ... carbon.

They make it by forming carbon cloth or fibers into the right
shape, then repeatedly infiltrating it with a hydrocarbon and
heating it to high temperature to pyrolize the hydrocarbon to
carbon + gases (methane, hydrogen, and others).

        Paul

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