Thermal Protection Performance of Polymethylmethacrylate-Impregnated Porous Carbon Materials with Three Different Densities

Abstract

The thermal protection performances of polymethylmethacrylate-impregnated porous carbon ablators with three different densities were examined in an arc wind-tunnel test. The more impregnated ablator exhibited significantly higher exhaust gas pyrolysis and heat absorption, which improved the recession resistance, the gas-blocking effect for convection heating, and the thermal insulation of the ablator. The improvement of the recession resistance resulting from the higher amount of impregnant was more significant at relatively low dynamic pressures, and the gas-blocking effect for convection heating was more pronounced at relatively low heat fluxes. In contrast, the improvement of the thermal insulation was more significant at higher heat fluxes. In addition, all the effects of the porous carbon impregnation on the ablator were more pronounced at longer heating times.