Abstract: A method of dissipating heat from a surface of a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) being inductively welded with a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) includes flexing a heat sink during placement to conform to the surface of the first TPC, cooling the heat sink, applying inductive heat to a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, and drawing off heat via the heat sink from the surface of the first TPC.

Abstract: A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) includes inductively heating a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, and cooling a surface of the first TPC opposite the weld interface area while inductively heating the weld interface area.

Abstract: A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, wherein the tiles are electrically non-conductive and have a thermal diffusivity of greater than about 25 mm2/sec. A joint flexibly joins the tiles together.

Abstract: A method of induction welding a first carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second carbon fiber thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes aligning the first TPC with the second TPC to form a weld interface area, flexing a heat sink onto a surface of the first TPC between the weld interface area and the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil.

Abstract: A method of induction welding a first thermoplastic composite (TPC) to a second thermoplastic composite (TPC) using an induction coil includes forming a weld interface area between the first TPC and the second TPC, cooling the first TPC with a cooling apparatus before heating by the induction coil, and inductively heating the weld interface area with the induction coil after cooling the first TPC.

Abstract: A heat sink for use in induction welding includes a number of tiles, where the tiles are electrically non-conductive and thermally conductive, a joint flexibly joining the tiles together, and a fluid path formed through the heat sink for communicating a coolant therethrough.

Abstract: Provided are stacks including CMC structures and capping layers deposited on surfaces of these CMC structures. Also provided are methods for hermetically sealing the surfaces of the CMC structures with the capping layers. These stacks may be used to construct walls of radomes that enclose antennas and other equipment of aerospace vehicles. The capping layers may form smooth external surfaces of the radomes and may hermetically seal the underlying CMC structures. The dielectric properties of these stacks may be configured to minimize interference with operations of the antennas and other equipment deposited within the radome.

Abstract: Provided are stacks including CMC structures and capping layers deposited on surfaces of these CMC structures. Also provided are methods for hermetically sealing the surfaces of the CMC structures with the capping layers. These stacks may be used to construct walls of radomes that enclose antennas and other equipment of aerospace vehicles. The capping layers may form smooth external surfaces of the radomes and may hermetically seal the underlying CMC structures. The dielectric properties of these stacks may be configured to minimize interference with operations of the antennas and other equipment deposited within the radome.

Abstract: Provided are methods for hermetically sealing the surfaces of the CMC structures with the capping layers, comprising depositing a slurry onto the surface of a CMC structure and treating the CMC structure with the deposited slurry in an oxygen containing environment, thereby forming a stack. These stacks may be used to construct walls of radomes that enclose antennas and other equipment of aerospace vehicles. The capping layers may form smooth external surfaces of the radomes and may hermetically seal the underlying CMC structures. The dielectric properties of these stacks may be configured to minimize interference with operations of the antennas and other equipment deposited within the radome.

Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener including a fastener first end and a longitudinally opposed fastener second end, and an anchor configured to receive and capture the fastener upon rotation of the fastener in a first direction, wherein the anchor is further configured to engage the fastener first end upon complete rotation of the fastener in the first direction, and the anchor is further configured to prohibit further rotation in a second direction, opposite the first direction, upon engagement with the fastener first end.

Abstract: A high temperature fastener including a bolt and a nut, where the bolt and the nut are constructed of an aluminum oxide ceramic material reinforced with silicon-carbide crystal whiskers or silicon nitride.

Abstract: A fastener system includes a fastener including a fastener first end and a longitudinally opposed fastener second end, and an anchor configured to receive and capture the fastener upon rotation of the fastener in a first direction, wherein the anchor is further configured to engage the fastener first end upon complete rotation of the fastener in the first direction, and the anchor is further configured to prohibit further rotation in a second direction, opposite the first direction, upon engagement with the fastener first end.

Abstract: A method of making a ceramic matrix composites (CMC) having superior properties at high temperatures. The CMC can include a sol gel mixture mixed or blended metal oxide particles. The sol-gel mixture can be an aqueous colloidal suspension of a metal oxide, preferably from about 10 wt % to about 25 wt % of the metal oxide, containing a metal oxide such as alumina (Al2O3), silica (SiO2) or alumina-coated silica. The mixture can be infiltrated into a ceramic fiber, gelled, dried and sintered to form the CMC of the present teachings.

Abstract: A radome tip assembly has high fracture toughness due to a tip and a bushing fastener that attaches the tip to a radome where both the tip and bushing fastener are constructed from a mixture of aluminum oxide ceramic material and reinforcing silicon-carbide crystal whiskers and the radome is constructed of an oxide ceramic matrix composite material.

Abstract: A nut plate (10) and a gang channel (78) are constructed of ceramic material. In one version, the nut plate (10) and gang channel (78) are constructed of aluminum oxide ceramic material reinforced with silicon-carbide crystal whiskers. In another version, the nut plate (10) and gang channel (78) are constructed of silicon-nitride. In a third version the nuts (54) are constructed of oxide ceramic material reinforced with silicon-carbide crystal whiskers or silicon-nitride and gage channel (78) are constructed of CMC (either oxide or non-oxide).

Abstract: A high temperature fastener including a bolt and a nut, where the bolt and the nut are constructed of an aluminum oxide ceramic material reinforced with silicon-carbide crystal whiskers or silicon nitride.

Abstract: A radome tip assembly has high fracture toughness due to a tip and a bushing fastener that attaches the tip to a radome where both the tip and bushing fastener are constructed from a mixture of aluminum oxide ceramic material and reinforcing silicon-carbide crystal whiskers and the radome is constructed of an oxide ceramic matrix composite material.

Abstract: Provided are stacks including CMC structures and capping layers deposited on surfaces of these CMC structures. Also provided are methods for hermetically sealing the surfaces of the CMC structures with the capping layers. These stacks may be used to construct walls of radomes that enclose antennas and other equipment of aerospace vehicles. The capping layers may form smooth external surfaces of the radomes and may hermetically seal the underlying CMC structures. The dielectric properties of these stacks may be configured to minimize interference with operations of the antennas and other equipment deposited within the radome.

Abstract: Provided are stacks including CMC structures and capping layers deposited on surfaces of these CMC structures. Also provided are methods for hermetically sealing the surfaces of the CMC structures with the capping layers. These stacks may be used to construct walls of radomes that enclose antennas and other equipment of aerospace vehicles. The capping layers may form smooth external surfaces of the radomes and may hermetically seal the underlying CMC structures. The dielectric properties of these stacks may be configured to minimize interference with operations of the antennas and other equipment deposited within the radome.

Abstract: Thermal insulation assemblies, methods for fabricating thermal insulation assemblies, and thermally insulated structures are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a thermally insulated structure is disclosed that includes a thermal insulation assembly comprises a ceramic tile having a surface coated with an alumina-mullite slurry. A ceramic matrix composite is disposed on the coated surface. The ceramic matrix composite comprises a first ply of a ceramic fiber impregnated with a ceramic matrix.