Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The intensification of space activities has led to an increase in orbital debris, making it crucial to study its behavior during atmospheric re-entry. This study focuses on the oxidation of Ti–6Al–4V alloy, a material used in the manufacture of pressurized fuel tanks for the aerospace industry. This alloy was exposed to an inductively coupled air plasma in the SOUPLIN set-up at the CORIA laboratory. Two operating points were studied: (1400 Pa, 4.6 MJ $$\hbox {kg}^{-1}$$ kg - 1 ) and (4500 Pa, 7.3 MJ $$\hbox {kg}^{-1}$$ kg - 1 ), for oxidation times of up to 120 s. Surface analyses (XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and SEM-EDS) reveal a predominance of $$\hbox {TiO}_{2}$$ TiO 2 rutile throughout the oxide layer, as well as the localized presence of $$\hbox {Al}_{2}$$ Al 2 $$\hbox {O}_{3}$$ O 3 and $$\hbox {Al}_{2}$$ Al 2 $$\hbox {TiO}_{5}$$ TiO 5 at temperatures above $$1150\,^\circ $$ 1150 ∘ C.
Source: CEAS Space Journal
Language: English
Subfield: Aerospace Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,390
OpenAlex ID: W4409621426