Boron Nitride Nanotube (BNNT) Reinforced Non-Oxide Ceramic Matrix Composites

High temperature materials, specifically ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTC) are increasingly being investigated for use in applications like atmospheric reentry and hypersonic vehicles. The high temperatures experienced by, for example, the leading edge of a platform exceeding Mach 5 (the threshold for hypersonic speeds) requires materials that can continue to function at temperatures around 1100 degree C or higher. Common engineering materials used for structural applications cannot withstand such extreme temperatures without either active (e.g., transpiration cooling) or passive cooling(e.g., film or ablative cooling). For passive cooling routes, UHTCs are used to withstand high temperatures protecting the underlying substrate. Thermal protection, however, is not the only application of UHTCs.