Physics:Fondu fyre

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Short description: Heat and erosion resistant concrete used in aerospace applications

Fondu Fyre, sometimes called Fondue Fyre, is a refractory concrete developed for specialist application. Fondu Fyre is a heat and erosion resistant concrete developed during the Apollo space program. It was developed to withstand the supersonic plume of a rocket engine during launch and hot-fire tests.[1]

Allied Mineral Products based in Ohio holds the registered trademark on the name Fondu Fyre.[2]

Uses

The concrete is used in 2 different mixtures called WA-1 and XB-1. The XB-1 is used as a more fire and erosion resistant layer for covering WA-1 in areas which are directly exposed to the exhaust flame of a rocket engine. The concrete is used on the launch pads of the Kennedy Space Center on the flame deflectors.[1]

Damage

Fondue Fyre was used to repair the damage done on May 31, 2008 to launchpad 39A during the launch of the Space Shuttle Discovery on mission STS-124.[3] After subsequent launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis for mission STS-125 on May 11, 2009 a 25 square metre section of the Fondue Fyre on pad 39A was found to have been damaged by exhaust from the Solid Rocket Booster.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lays, E. (March 1966). Design Handbook for Protection of Launch* Complexes from Solid Propellant Exhaust (Report). NASA. p. 26. https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19660020619/downloads/19660020619.pdf. Retrieved December 6, 2025. 
  2. ↑ "Fondu Fyre". United States Patent and Trademark Office. https://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4807:i4hwa8.2.1. 
  3. ↑ "NASA - Spray-on Layer to Protect Flame Trench". NASA. https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/shuttleflametrench.html. 



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