I‘m doing a lot of research into materials and I was told that ceramic tiles were used on space shuttles, they said something about things that can enter the atmosphere being rock and sand, though I doubt that‘s the reason they use tiles. Does anyone know if and why they‘re used? thanks xx
No, most of the Shuttle tiles are actually surprisingly light--that's how they could be damaged by the foam during Columbia's liftoff. That said, IIRC the black ones around the nose etc. (i.e., in the hottest spots during reentry) are made of carbon, so they would be harder and heavier than the others. But I don't think any of them are made of ceramic--someone just assumed that when they heard the Shuttle was covered with tiles, since that's what we expect when we hear the word tile.
The ceramics are used because they can withstand the extremes of heat and cold the shuttle goes through. Pretty amazing stuff. You can heat it until it nearly melts and then pick it up (by the edges) with your bare fingers. I've used similar stuff in a job long ago for quick drying fast moving paper. While it can withstand the heat, the stuff is very fragile and soft.
It replace into spectacular while they equipped it, yet now it incredibly is in line with 40+ year previous technologies. we are nevertheless development spaceships that place self assurance in burning something that variety into invented for the period of international conflict II. The shuttle seems laughably old with no longer something yet rubber (?) O-rings protecting the astronauts from disaster and clay tiles (?) with glue (!) protecting them from the warmth of re-get right of entry to. i comprehend it is going to likely be awhile in the previous and if some form of electro-magnetic stress field could nicely be designed, yet we've been meant to have finished provider smart robots and flying automobiles via now.
