Morgan Advanced Materials, England, has partnered with global aerospace giant Airbus Safran Launchers (ASL) to develop and manufacture ceramic thruster chambers to aid satellite propulsion by ion beam engines. The products are being developed with Morgan’s proprietary high-performance alumina materials, which are proven to deliver exceptional electrical properties.
Morgan is delivering the comprehensive solution to ASL based on its unique project requirements. The components are custom developed together with ASL to provide optimum performance and integration into their products.
This is not the first time Morgan has worked closely with ASL/Airbus. The businesses have a relationship spanning 20 years – when Morgan began work with European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), a predecessor of ASL.
One explanation behind the success of the venture is Morgan’s unrivalled track record in the development of materials for demanding applications and environments, of which notable examples include AL300 and AL500 ceramic grades . Morgan’s materials provide proven characteristics such as high levels of dielectric strength (15KV/mm), ultralow dielectric losses, and thermal shock resistance. These ensure that Morgan is able to offer the best material to satisfy the rigorous demands of the aerospace sector, saving significant time and money on the development of new products. In addition, Morgan’s short ceramic prototyping lead time has further reduced development time.
An alternative to fuel-burning systems, ion propulsion technology uses electricity to charge heavy gas atoms, which accelerate from a spacecraft at high velocity, propelling it forward. Critical to the ionization process is the thruster chamber, which contains the propellant while it is subjected to an electromagnetic field that charges the gas atoms to create ions. Ion propulsion can run on as little as a few hundred grams of propellant per day, making it a suitable lightweight alternative to other engine systems.
http://www.morgantechnicalceramics.com/airbus
