Tenders Are Invited For Alloy Development For High Pressure And Oxygen Rich Environment Propulsion Expro Plus

Tenders are invited for Alloy Development for High Pressure and Oxygen Rich Environment Propulsion Expro plus Objective: To develop new European alloys for high-pressure, oxygen-rich propulsion applications, enhancing performance, manufacturability and supply chain resilience for next-generation launch vehicles.Description: Propulsion remains a key driver in launch vehicle performance, particularly as the sector pursues higher thrust capabilities through operation at elevated temperatures. Applications such as high-thrust engines, oxygen-rich pre-burners (used in staged combustion), gas generators, and high-pressure liquid oxygen (LOx) turbopumps must operate under extreme thermal and mechanical loads in highly reactive environments. At present, Europe lacks a material solution capable of meeting these demands. ESA teams, across several directorates have jointly identified this as a critical capability gap. While progress has been made in non-member states countries, Europe currently lacks materials capable of operating reliably in oxygen-rich and high-pressure environments. The development of tailored European alloy systems would directly support ongoing launcher developments, both from established industry and emerging companies working on micro, small and medium launch vehicles. These materials would serve as a strategic enabler across the sector, particularly for reusable platforms. The activity aimsto develop novel high-performance alloys suitable for use in oxygen-rich and high-pressure environments. These alloys must offer high thermal conductivity, mechanical strength at elevated temperatures, and compatibility with additive manufacturing (AM). Candidatematerial families include refractory alloys, superalloys, and oxide-dispersion-strengthened (ODS) alloys. Computational tools, including artificial intelligence (AI), will guide the design process to optimise performance and manufacturability while ensuring alignment with European supply chain capabilities. This activity encompasses the following tasks: - Define propulsion application requirements (temperature, duration, material compatibility, structural loads). - Conduct state-of-the-art assessment across candidate alloy families. - Use AI to support design of new alloy compositions meeting propulsion and AM requirements. - Produce experimental powder batches for selected alloy formulations. - Manufacture and test printed coupons in representative operational environments. -Evaluate manufacturability, including welding compatibility and potential for repair. - Perform preliminary life cycle analysis and assess European sourcing of raw elements. - Outline a roadmap for further maturation in subsequent projects.Procurement Policy: C(2) = A relevant participation (in terms of quality and quantity) of non-primes (incl. SMEs) is required. For additional information please go to:http://www.esa.int/About_Us/Business_with_ESA/Small_and_Medium_Sized_Enterprises/Opportunities_for_SMEs/Procurement_policy_on_fair_access_for_SMEs_-_the_C1-C4_Clauses Read less Tender Link : https://esastar-publication-ext.sso.esa.int/ESATenderActions/filter/open

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