REUSABLE HIGH-TEMPERATURE HEAT PIPES AND HEAT PIPE PANELS

摘要

A reusable, durable heat pipe which is capable of operating at temperatures up to about 3000°F in an oxidizing environment and at temperatures above 3000°F in an inert or vacuum environment is produced by embedding a refractory metal pipe (4) within a carbon-carbon composite structure (1). A reusable, durable heat pipe panel is made from an array of refractory-metal pipes spaced from each other, each refractory-metal pipe (4) being embedded within a carbon-carbon composite structure (1). The reusable, durable, heat-pipe panel (16) is employed to fabricate a hypersonic vehicle leading edge (16) and nose cap.