Extreme high temperature insulation materials

[Ironroundhouse01]

Hi guys, i'm looking for a material that can withstand and reflect extremely high temperatures.  These temperatures are along the lines of thousands of degrees Celsius, the kind of temperatures one would see if you measured the heat four to five inches away from a ball of hydrogen plasma, just wanted to know if anyone had any ideas on the subject

Edited September 26, 2017 by Ironroundhouse01
change of diction

[Carrock]

Ablative shields such as on the Apollo command modules worked perfectly.

The tiles on the shuttle worked well without ablating but were very fragile.

Anything more specific requires more info from you. I'm not an engineer so can't help you further.

[koti]

As Carrock said, we’d need more details. Is  active cooling an option? Shooting in the dark here but materials capable of doing a decent job in such extreme temperatures will cost you plenty plus most probably nothing passive will work for prolonged periods of time.

[EdEarl]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melting_points_of_the_elements_(data_page) gives melting temperatures of the elements. Graphite appears to be highest (near 4000C) with tungsten next.

Quote

http://www.asminternational.org/web/cmdnetwork/home/-/journal_content/56/10180/25655039/NEWS

Computations show that a material made with just the right amounts of hafnium, nitrogen, and carbon would have a melting point of more than 4400 K (7460°F). That's about two-thirds the temperature at the surface of the sun and 200 K higher than the highest melting point ever recorded experimentally

 

[Sensei]

What you need is material with high thermal conductivity and after transport of heat outside of device, efficient way to cool it down f.e. large tank of liquid which will be absorbing energy.

Surface that has direct contact with plasma won't melt, if it's all the time cooled down from outside.

 

[Ironroundhouse01]

You said you wanted more info so here it is, i'm trying to design a gauntlet or glove that can be used in close proximity with extremely high temperature materials such as hydrogen and the like.  I'm also trying to make the apparatus as portable as possible

[Ironroundhouse01]

i meant to say plasma not hydrogen, my mistake, sorry

 

[Sensei]

To create plasma there is needed: extremely high pressure from gravitation of star, extremely high pressure caused by magnetic field from superconducting electromagnets, or high voltage (at least few thousands of volts)..

I assume you want to make plasma using the last method (f.e. Van de Graaff generator, Cockcroft-Walton generator) , as it's only sensible for ordinary mortal.. ?

Temperature is not big problem in this case. High voltage, high current, could pass through gloves killing person, or causing electrical shock.

 

[John Cuthber]

1 hour ago, Sensei said:

To create plasma there is needed: extremely high pressure from gravitation of star, extremely high pressure caused by magnetic field from superconducting electromagnets, or high voltage (at least few thousands of volts)..

Or you can use a candle flame.
If you want to do it electrically you will need an arc welder- typically rated for about 40 volts.

It's plasma, not "magic".

Which incidentally explains why the OP doesn't make much sense.

 

Edited September 27, 2017 by John Cuthber

[Enthalpy]

When estimating which material withstands a high temperature, the main property is its vapour pressure, not its melting point, because refractory materials use to evaporate too quickly rather than melt. This limits to some 3000K with tungsten, and quite a bit less with the best ceramics despite their higher melting point.

Unless air or some gas is present, in which case corrosion (or call it oxidation or whatever you want) is often a much harder limit, and other materials like tantalum may be less bad then. Ar, Kr, Xe, halogens like in light bulbs put no further limit, but air does.

So: what plasma temperature? Is active cooling possible? And so on.

[Ironroundhouse01]

the temperature of the plasma ive been looking at is hydrogen which has an average temperature of about 8500 degrees Celsius, the active cooling depends on how portable it is, i really dont want to lug around a huge vat of water with me wherever i take this thing    

[Enthalpy]

No material withstands 8500°C. Either the plasma radiates little enough, is far enough, has a density small enough... and the walls have naturally a much lower temperature, or you'll have to cool the walls actively, whether you like it or not.

Then, you must check if the plasma remain so hot despite the contact with the walls.