Trowelable Rubber Rocket Insulation for Use at 2800°C

Abstract

Abstract Ablative, trowelable rocket insulation was prepared; it crosslinks at room temperature and self-bonds to prevulcanized NBR insulation. The material loss rate (MLR) of this insulation is low when it is tested by an oxyacetylene torch at temperatures of about 2800°C. Boric acid in the insulation causes an effective char to form at service temperature. This char slows the loss rate of nondegraded insulation beneath it. Density of this nondegraded insulation is 1.3 g/cm3. Density is reduced sharply to 0.8 g/cm3 by incorporating glass microballoons. They cause only a slight increase in MLR of the insulation at service temperatures. MLR can be significantly reduced by incorporating a blowing agent which decomposes only after the insulation is exposed to service temperature. Hence, an unusual combination of requirements is met by several novel approaches. This insulation has protected rockets as large as 6.6 meters in diameter from the intense heat of burning propellant in service.