8 ADVANCED MATERIALS & PROCESSES | NOVEMBER 2026 pressure-sensitive paints also respond to temperature changes, which can distort measurements during highspeed tests. The new material incorporates a light-emitting, platinum-based compound into a specially engineered polymer, preventing the compound’s molecules from clustering. Testing showed temperature sensitivity of just 0.3% per degree Celsius, a 25% improvement over the current industry benchmark. Researchers tested the paint on a cone-shaped model in a supersonic wind tunnel, where airflow can exceed Mach 5. Measurements closely matched computer simulations despite significant temperature variations across the model. The paint also revealed complex, corkscrew-shaped airflow patterns known as Görtler vortices, which help engineers understand airflow near curved surfaces. Such measurements are particularly valuable because aerodynamic heating can vary TESTING | CHARACTERIZATION REAL-TIME HEAT SHIELD IMAGING Researchers at the U.S. DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California, developed a way to observe spacecraft heat shield materials as they break down under extreme heat, providing new data to improve thermal protection systems. During atmospheric reentry, spacecraft heat shields endure temperatures exceeding 3000°F. Their protective materials gradually decompose through ablation, sacrificing outer layers to protect the vehicle and crew. Previously, scientists largely relied on observations taken before and after heating to understand this process. Using x-ray microcomputed tomo- graphy at Berkeley Lab’s Advanced Light Source, a team from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and NASA captured 3D images of two commercial materials, SLA-220 and SLA-561V, as they heated to 1652°F. Imaging enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) revealed that SLA-561V’s cork filler decomposed, leaving iso- lated pockets, while SLA-220 formed interconnected channels. These contrasting structures affect how heat and gases move through each material, influencing its protective performance under reentry conditions. The technique combines rapid, large-volume imaging with AI-based super-resolution to capture structural changes in greater detail. The findings provide data to improve predictive models and help engineers better assess heat shield performance. The research builds on Berkeley Lab’s work examining materials used in NASA missions, including Artemis, following unexpected heat shield performance during the program’s first mission. lbl.gov. GLOWING PAINT MAPS AIR PRESSURE Scientists at The University of Manchester in England created a pressure-sensitive paint that reduces temperature-related measurement errors, potentially improving the design of more efficient aircraft and spacecraft. The paint glows in response to air pressure on a model’s surface, allowing engineers to map airflow during wind tunnel testing. However, conventional This heat shield from NASA’s Orion spacecraft was inspected following the Artemis I test flight. Courtesy of NASA. Solar Atmospheres of Western PA, Hermitage, installed a new Kasto saw at its metallurgical laboratory, specifically for preparation and analysis of difficult-to-machine materials including Inconel and titanium. solaratm.com. LECO Corp., St. Joseph, Michigan, announces its 812 Series of new multiphase elemental analyzers built for rapid, simultaneous determination of carbon and moisture across organic and inorganic materials. leco.com. BRIEFS Aerodynamic performance data on a truncated cone model at supersonic flow. Courtesy of The University of Manchester.
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