Studies on Ablative Performance of silicone low density ablative material

Abstract

AbstractIn the present studies silicon based low density ablative material has been studied for its ablative performance to protect flight hardware from temperature raised due to aerodynamic forces for longer duration. Ablative properties are estimated by oxyacetylene flame test at 100-120 W/m2heat flux. The time duration for the flame test is taken 200 sec. The material shows low mass and linear ablation rate with high ablative effectiveness. The degradation kinetics of silicon ablator is studied by Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) method. Non-isothermal TGA is performed in the temperature range of 30 °C to 900 °C at various heating rates viz. 5, 10, 15 and 20oC/ min. Knowledge of the kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition is used to predict degradation kinetics of the material at high heating rates which the ablator faces during aerospace applications. During ablation the silicone ablative material consist of a virgin zone, reaction zone and char zone. These are explained by kinetic parameters which are determined with help of free software called Kinetic Calculation.