NASA’s Glenn Research Center has developed a family of copper-based alloys called Glenn Research Copper (GRCop) for use in high-performance rocket engines. The alloys, which include copper, chromium and niobium, are optimised for high strength, high thermal conductivity, high creep resistance and good low cycle fatigue above 900 degrees Fahrenheit. They tolerate temperatures up to 40% higher than traditional copper alloys, leading to higher performance components and reusability. The latest iteration of the alloy, GRCop-42, uses a variety of additive manufacturing methods to create single-piece and multi-material combustion chambers and thrust chamber assemblies for rocket engines.
