3-Dimensional Quartz Phenolic
Encyclopedia
3-Dimensional Quartz Phenolic (3DQP) is a phenolic-based material composed of a quartz
cloth material woven into a seamless sock
shape cloth impregnated with a phenolic resin
and hot-pressed. When cured, 3DQP can be machined
in the same way as metals and is tough and fire-resistant. 3DQP is used for the manufacture of Nuclear Weapon
Re-entry vehicles
(RV).
The quartz material 'hardens
' the RV protecting the nuclear warhead against high-energy neutron
s emitted by exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile
(ABM) bursts before re-entry..
3DQP was first used on the British
Chevaline
Improved Front End (IFE) for the Royal Navy
's UGM-27 Polaris
system that was in service from 1982 to 1996, when it was replaced by Trident D5.
, one of the two suppliers of US RV's, the other being General Electric
. The Chevaline ReB as well as subsequent UK ReBs were manufactured by AVCO, now part of Textron
.
Later, the supply of test samples of 3DQP to France
without UK permission caused friction between the British Government and AVCO, and action in the US courts by the British government .
Quartz
Quartz is the second-most-abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust, after feldspar. It is made up of a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall formula SiO2. There are many different varieties of quartz,...
cloth material woven into a seamless sock
Sock
A sock is an item of clothing worn on the feet. The foot is among the heaviest producers of sweat in the body, as it is able to produce over of perspiration per day. Socks help to absorb this sweat and draw it to areas where air can evaporate the perspiration. In cold environments, socks decrease...
shape cloth impregnated with a phenolic resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
and hot-pressed. When cured, 3DQP can be machined
Lathe
A lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.Lathes are used in woodturning,...
in the same way as metals and is tough and fire-resistant. 3DQP is used for the manufacture of Nuclear Weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
Re-entry vehicles
Atmospheric reentry
Atmospheric entry is the movement of human-made or natural objects as they enter the atmosphere of a celestial body from outer space—in the case of Earth from an altitude above the Kármán Line,...
(RV).
The quartz material 'hardens
Electromagnetic pulse
An electromagnetic pulse is a burst of electromagnetic radiation. The abrupt pulse of electromagnetic radiation usually results from certain types of high energy explosions, especially a nuclear explosion, or from a suddenly fluctuating magnetic field...
' the RV protecting the nuclear warhead against high-energy neutron
Neutron
The neutron is a subatomic hadron particle which has the symbol or , no net electric charge and a mass slightly larger than that of a proton. With the exception of hydrogen, nuclei of atoms consist of protons and neutrons, which are therefore collectively referred to as nucleons. The number of...
s emitted by exo-atmospheric Anti-ballistic missile
Anti-ballistic missile
An anti-ballistic missile is a missile designed to counter ballistic missiles .A ballistic missile is used to deliver nuclear, chemical, biological or conventional warheads in a ballistic flight trajectory. The term "anti-ballistic missile" describes any antimissile system designed to counter...
(ABM) bursts before re-entry..
3DQP was first used on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Chevaline
Chevaline
Chevaline was a system to improve the penetrability of the British Polaris missile warheads. Devised as an answer to the improved Soviet defences around Moscow, the system was intended to increase the probability that at least one warhead would penetrate the city's anti-ballistic missile defences,...
Improved Front End (IFE) for the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
's UGM-27 Polaris
UGM-27 Polaris
The Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile built during the Cold War by Lockheed Corporation of California for the United States Navy....
system that was in service from 1982 to 1996, when it was replaced by Trident D5.
Manufacture
A licence to manufacture 3DQP in the US was acquired and production was undertaken by AVCOAvco
Avco Corporation is a subsidiary of Textron which operates Textron Systems Corporation and Lycoming.-Brief history:The Embry-Riddle Company created the Aviation Corporation in 1928 as a holding company tasked with acquiring small airlines...
, one of the two suppliers of US RV's, the other being General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
. The Chevaline ReB as well as subsequent UK ReBs were manufactured by AVCO, now part of Textron
Textron
Textron is a conglomerate that includes Bell Helicopter, E-Z-GO, Cessna Aircraft Company, and Greenlee, among others. It was founded by Royal Little in 1923 as the Special Yarns Company, and is headquartered at the Textron Tower in Providence, Rhode Island, United States.With total revenues of...
.
Later, the supply of test samples of 3DQP to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
without UK permission caused friction between the British Government and AVCO, and action in the US courts by the British government .
See also
- Chevaline Re-entry BodyChevaline Re-entry BodyThe Chevaline Re-entry Body was the Re-entry vehicle , of the British Chevaline warhead development of the Royal Navy's UGM-27 Polaris missile system...
- ChevalineChevalineChevaline was a system to improve the penetrability of the British Polaris missile warheads. Devised as an answer to the improved Soviet defences around Moscow, the system was intended to increase the probability that at least one warhead would penetrate the city's anti-ballistic missile defences,...
- Nuclear weapons and the United KingdomNuclear weapons and the United KingdomThe United Kingdom was the third country to test an independently developed nuclear weapon, in October 1952. It is one of the five "Nuclear Weapons States" under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which the UK ratified in 1968...
- UGM-27 PolarisUGM-27 PolarisThe Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile built during the Cold War by Lockheed Corporation of California for the United States Navy....
- Resolution class submarineResolution class submarineThe Resolution-class submarine armed with the Polaris missile was the United Kingdom's primary nuclear deterrent from the late 1960s to 1994, when they were replaced by the Vanguard-class submarine carrying the Trident II.-Background:...
- Atmospheric reentryAtmospheric reentryAtmospheric entry is the movement of human-made or natural objects as they enter the atmosphere of a celestial body from outer space—in the case of Earth from an altitude above the Kármán Line,...