On April 29, the China Space Station "Tianhe" core module was successfully launched. A number of high-performance materials developed by ZKJS Advanced Materials Technology Group were successfully applied in the "Tianhe" core module.
Among them, the Hall thruster cavity used for the first time in the core cabin electric propulsion system uses the boron nitride ceramic matrix composite material developed by ZKJS. Electric propulsion system, also called electric rocket engine, is an advanced space propulsion technology. Its main characteristics are high specific impulse, long life, and high control accuracy. The ionization and acceleration of plasma in the Hall thruster are all completed in the discharge cavity made of boron nitride ceramic matrix composite materials, so the discharge cavity can be compared to the "heart" of the Hall thruster. The ZKJS scientific research team solved the problems of low strength of boron nitride ceramic materials, easy moisture absorption, unstable discharge state of the cavity, and poor ion sputtering resistance, and developed a low-density, high-strength, thermal shock resistance, sputtering resistance, etc. The boron nitride-based composite material, which has the advantages of easy processing and good insulation performance, meets the requirements of the thruster for ceramic cavity materials. In addition, there are a variety of components in the Hall thruster that also use the ceramic material as an insulating medium between high voltage and low voltage. The boron nitride ceramic-based composite material has been widely used in major aerospace programs, meeting the high requirements of spacecraft for ceramic cavity materials.
The high-performance silicon carbide particle-reinforced aluminum matrix composite (SiC/Al) developed by the team of ZKJS Innovation Center Ma Zongyi is applied to the key components of the solar wing extension mechanism to ensure the smooth deployment of the power system. The team has broken through powder metallurgy batch preparation technology and isotropic plate plastic forming technology. The billet production efficiency has been increased by more than 5 times, the sheet yield rate has increased by 20%, and the performance difference between product batches Cv<5%. At present, the team has provided more than ten batches of products for the power system of the space station. "Tianhe" core cabin also uses large-area retractable flexible solar wing for the first time, using 6 active mechanisms for three-dimensional five-step deployment. During the deployment process, several extension mechanisms are pushed out one by one, driving the solar wing to expand outward. The unfolding process lasts 40 minutes.