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Sustaining PICA for Future NASA Robotic Science Missions Including NF-4 and DiscoveryPhenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA), invented in the mid 1990's, is a low-density ablative thermal protection material proven capable of meeting sample return mission needs from the moon, asteroids, comets and other unrestricted class V destinations as well as for Mars. Its low density and efficient performance characteristics have proven effective for use from Discovery to Flag-ship class missions. It is important that NASA maintain this thermal protection material capability and ensure its availability for future NASA use. The rayon based carbon precursor raw material used in PICA preform manufacturing has experienced multiple supply chain issues and required replacement and requalification at least twice in the past 25 years and a third substitution is now needed. The carbon precursor replacement challenge is twofold - the first involves finding a long-term replacement for the current rayon and the second is to assess its future availability periodically to ensure it is sustainable and be alerted if additional replacement efforts need to be initiated. This paper reviews current PICA sustainability activities to identify a rayon replacement and to establish that the capability of the new PICA derived from an alternative precursor is in family with previous versions.
Document ID
20180001911
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Presentation
Authors
Stackpoole, Mairead (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Venkatapathy, Ethiraj (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Violette, Steve (Fiber Materials, Inc. Biddeford, ME, United States)
Date Acquired
March 15, 2018
Publication Date
March 3, 2018
Subject Category
Chemistry And Materials (General)
Report/Patent Number
ARC-E-DAA-TN53535
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 3, 2018
End Date: March 10, 2018
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) Society, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNA14AA96B
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.

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