Jul 282015
Researchers predict material with record-setting melting point
Highly steeped in the hypothetical, but it looks like a material made from the right amounts of hafnium, nitrogen, and carbon (HfN0.38C0.51) would have a melting point of 4,400 kelvin = 7,460 F. No data yet on the mechanical properties. If it’s a powder, that’s not so helpful, but if it’s a reasonably strong solid, it’d be handy for heat shields and the like. It’d be really nice if this could be used to make rocket engines.