Thermosensitive coating dedicated to smart TPS for very high temperature - 850 °C to 1650°C

This paper presents the recent development of a new thermosensitive coating and its associated reading device, which allows to determine thermal history in the 850°C- 1650°C temperature range, providing access to a new easy way to detect hot spot on smart Thermal Protection System with a much better thermal resolution than commercially available thermochromic paints. This technology is suitable to be rapidly integrated on re-usable launcher or vehicle parts as a paint on the thermostructural surfaces or inside small machined cavities. A new device dedicated to detection of overheated zones in the overall range of temperatures achieved in the whole Thermal Protection System (from CMCs to Metallics) is presented, thus promising a considerable reduction in the effort required for post-flight inspection.