Kyocera showcases aerospace ceramic solutions at Space Tech Expo Europe 2024

High-performance material Fine Cordierite
Kyocera’s Fine Cordierite especially stands out for its minimal coefficient of thermal expansion. This guarantees high dimensional stability during temperature changes. In comparison with other materials with similar mechanical properties, this high degree of rigidity facilitates weight reductions of up to 70 per cent. Thanks to its excellent mechanical properties, Fine Cordierite is suitable for structural components that need to function reliably even under extreme conditions.

Kyocera will be presenting two innovative applications at Space Tech Expo 2024:

1. A world first: Fine Cordierite mirrors for the construction of ground-based telescopes
Kyocera partnered with Kyoto Sangyo University, a private higher education institution in Kyoto, Japan, and Photocross Co., Ltd, an optical technology service provider, to develop a reflector telescope with a large, lightweight Fine Cordierite mirror^*1. In this joint project, Kyocera was responsible for manufacturing the large aspherical concave mirror as well as the small aspherical convex mirrors using its ceramic material Fine Cordierite. The material’s excellent dimensional stability when exposed to temperature fluctuations is of particular value. Other focuses of the partnership involved developing the next generation of large ground-based telescopes with a diameter of 30 metres or more and infrared observation instruments for space telescopes.

2. Ceramic mirrors made of Fine Cordierite for experimental optical communication on the International Space Station (ISS)
Fine Cordierite has also proven to be indispensable in the field of optical communication. Kyocera’s ceramic mirror made from this material has been used in the construction of the optical communication antenna on the International Space Station (ISS). This milestone is the result of 65 years of development and enables communication between space and ground stations at speeds up to 100 times faster than radio wave communication while simultaneously offering significantly higher data transmission capacity. The space mirror must fulfil four key requirements: low thermal expansion, high mechanical strength and rigidity, permanent dimensional stability and resistance to radiation. Owing to its excellent material properties and nanometre precision, Fine Cordierite was chosen as the best suited material to cope with the harsh conditions of space.

All-round material silicon infiltrated silicon carbide (SiSiC)
In addition to Fine Cordierite, silicon infiltrated silicon carbide (SiSiC) has also emerged as a leading high-performance material for aerospace applications. The proprietary connection and manufacturing technology facilitates the production of complex, high-precision components with unique design features. It can be used to design products with internal cavities, such as cooling channels, complex and finely detailed structures of less than 1 mm and large-scale monolithic components up to 950 x 950 x 650 mm and larger. These components are also gas- and watertight and are noted for their high strength, exceptional rigidity and reliability combined with extremely low weight. The SiSiC components are currently still in the development and testing phase.

About Space Tech Expo Europe 2024
Organized for the first time in 2015, Space Tech Expo Europe is Europe’s largest trade fair for the space industry supply chain. With more than 700 exhibitors, the trade fair brings together start-up companies and industry experts from across Europe to report on the latest progress and products in the aerospace sector.

Overview: Kyocera at Space Tech Expo Europe 2024