Analysis of Test Specimen Temperature Gradients Incurred in Resistive Heating System Oxidation Studies of Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics

Abstract

The need for advanced materials that can meet application requirements at ultra-high temperatures in oxidizing environments is an area of active research. One challenge facing the high temperature materials community is the ability to conduct controlled ultra-high temperature oxidation tests with minimal to no contamination or reaction with the chamber. A unique resistive heating system (RHS) capable of achieving ultra-high temperatures (> 1700 °C) to enable such experimentation is described. A concern of such a system is the potential presence of thermal gradients in directions not reflective of actual material applications, e.g., the hottest region being in the center of the sample. Experimental results from the oxidation of ZrB₂ specimens at nominal temperatures of 1500°, 1700° and 1800 °C in low pO₂ (0.1–1% O₂ in Ar) environments are presented. Specimen thermal gradients generated during oxidation were evaluated using finite element analysis models. Thermal gradients on the order of the uncertainty in temperature measurements were calculated, confirming the RHS suitability for conducting ultra-high temperature oxidation exposures on ultra-high temperature ceramics.