Hall thruster produces thrust through ionization, thus it is also known as ionization thruster. Its electron source emits electrons that form a ring-shaped electron beam. At this time, an inert gas (xenon) is introduced into the thruster and ionized by electrons to produce plasma. Under the influence of a magnetic field, the plasma moves at high speed and creates thrust.
Boron nitride ceramics are formed into green bodies through a hot pressing procedure and then sintered in vacuum, which lead to fine structure, high density, and good physical properties. Boron nitride ceramic is the perfect choice for Hall thruster parts. Performance details are as follows:
Low Density
Low-density boron nitride ceramics have emerged as the best option since aerospace items have extremely high standards for weight reduction and high-strength and low-density materials are favored materials for aerospace.
Electrical Insulation
Boron nitride ceramics provide excellent electronic insulating properties. Boron nitride insulator cavity can avoid short circuits induced by plasma-generated electric fields.
Resistance to Thermal Shock
During their missions, satellites may encounter extreme temperature variations. Boron nitride ceramics are resistant to thermal shock and will not crack in rapid cooling or heating situations.
Resistance to Sputtering
The ionization process will corrode the channel's surface and generate sputtering. Boron nitride material has a high resistance to sputtering and little secondary electron emission.
High Thermal Conductivity
Boron nitride can hasten heat dissipation during high-velocity plasma operation.
Machinability
The thruster's channel design is typically intricate. Boron nitride is a machinable ceramic that is simple to process into complicated shapes, and the processing cycle is short, making design changes convenient.
Information
Unipretec's boron nitride Hall thruster channel has been utilized and tested in China and many foreign countries. It has stable performance and can be processed to fit customer's drawings.
Exceptionally high thermal conductivity of boron nitride ceramics allows the thruster to effectively disperse heat even at high power levels. The thruster's lifetime and stability are thereby increased.
Since boron nitride ceramics help to maintain the electric field distribution within the thruster and improve thrust efficiency, they are an excellent material for electrical insulation. Ceramics made of boron nitride are such.
Chemical stability: The thruster can run continuously in a range of situations without corroding since boron nitride ceramics are very resistant to most solvents.
Great mechanical robustness High mechanical strength and ability to withstand the mechanical stress produced by the thruster during operation characterize boron nitride ceramics.
Because boron nitride ceramics have low density, the thruster weighs less. Given that it reduces the weight the thruster must carry, this is very important for spaceship weight control.
Low thermal expansion coefficient of boron nitride ceramics contributes to the stability of the structure during thruster operation. Among the reasons for their excellent thermal expansion performance is this.
High wear resistance: The thruster may keep working well even after long periods of time due of the excellent wear resistance provided by boron nitride ceramics.
Radiation tolerance: By withstanding the radiation of high-energy particles in the space environment, boron nitride ceramics shield the electronic parts within the thruster.
Being environmentally benign, boron nitride ceramics meet the requirements of spacecraft for environmental protection and contain no hazardous substances.
High performance boron nitride ceramics enables Hall thrusters to operate for a long time and do away with the need for on-orbit maintenance on spacecraft. Hall thrusters may therefore last longer.
Applications' locations
Boron nitride ceramic hall thrusters have extensive use in the following industries:
exploration of deep space: utilized to accurately steer and modify the attitude of deep space probes.
The process of positioning satellites is used to preserve orbits and modify geostationary orbital placements of satellites.
Space station attitude control and orbit modification are two uses for the space station.
The deployment of tiny satellites into orbit and attitude management of these spacecraft are the uses for them.
Boron nitride ceramic Hall thrusters are becoming to be a major part of the aerospace industry overall because of their outstanding performance and wide variety of possible uses. More reliable and efficient propulsion systems for next satellite technologies and deep space exploration will be provided by boron nitride ceramic Hall thrusters. The continuous development of aeronautical technology is what is bringing this about.
