Zirconium boride coatings for ultra high temperature composites and solar power generators

The project is to develop a process and the basis for a UK facility for coating components with zirconium diboride by chemical vapour deposition. This ultra-high temperature ceramic has applications in the generation of solar power and the protection of ceramic composites for hypersonic and space vehicles. For ceramic composites it is seen as a new exterior coating material which can combine with existing silicon carbide (SiC) coatings to extend the temperature range at which SiC based composites can operate. It is therefore being aimed at hypersonic vehicles and missiles as well as thermal protection systems for space applications. In the solar power field it has the additional advantage of being a good absorber of solar radiation which can improve the efficiency of power conversion in the volumetric solar receivers of solar energy generators. The project aims to produce small demonstration pieces which can be used both for material tests and as a proof of principle for scale up of the process to larger components.