Validation of a novel technique with radioactive implanted ions for recession rate estimate of aerospace material

Durability tests of thermal protection system (TPS) materials for space vehicles is of paramount importance in developing TPS materials. The limits of the presently used techniques and the need for higher accuracy and precision demand new reliable and more sensitive measurement methods. In this paper we present the validation of a new on-line and non intrusive technique to estimate the TPS material recession rate which exploits the surface layer implantation of radioactive Be-7 ions and the measurement of its characteristic gamma-rays during the recession test.