Skip to Content
School of Engineering
Advanced Composites Laboratory

Carbon/Phenolic Nanocomposites for Ablative Applications

Goal

     To develop a new generation of ablative materials for thermal protection. 
 

Motivation

     Standard materials used for thermal protection were developed more than 30 years ago. 
 

About

     This research is dedicated to a potential material for ablative applications which could be alternative for currently used materials. Ablation is a process of material removal from a surface or other erosive process, and usually associated with materials for space reentry vehicles and rocket nozzles. The ablatives are placed on the surfaces of rocket, space vehicles, and combustion chambers of rocket engines in order to ensure suitable temperature conditions for operations. These materials should withstand very high temperatures in the order of thousands of degrees Celsius, high thrust, high friction, and impact. The material should be able to shape complex shapes and should be as light as possible. Ablative materials have progressed with introduction of new materials and technologies. Since late 1990, nanotechnology has been a new frontier of all scientific community. Nanotechnology deals with particles which have at least one dimension less of equal to 100 nm. Addition of proper nanoparticles in polymer matrix can enhance ablative and overall mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites. Therefore, many articles and reports have been published on effects of nanoparticles on ablative properties (1,2,4,5,6). The typical nanoparticles used for ablatives are Single and Multi Wall Carbon Nano Tubes (SWNT, MWNT), carbon black, different nanoclays. The major goal of this study is to evaluate the effects of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) on ablation properties of carbon/phenolic nanocomposites. MWCNT will be blended into phenolic resin using high-shear mixing technique to ensure exfoliation of nanoparticles. Loadings of 0, 1, 2, and 3wt% of MWCNT will be dispersed in the phenolic resin. Test panels of 120 x 120 x 12.6 mm carbon reinforced composites will be manufactured from prepregs using compression molding. Test specimens will be cut into proper size by using abrasive water-jet cutting. Preliminary studies were conducted using radiant heat panel at heat flux of 15 kW/m2. These results demonstrated promising results. Further, Simulated Solid Rocket Motor (SSRM) testing facility will be used to examine ablative properties of these phenolic-MWCNT nanocomposites with flame temperature about 2,200°C.

 

Publications

  1. J. S. Tate, D. Kabakov, and J. Koo, "Carbon/phenolic nanocomposites for ablative applications", SAMPE Journal, vol. 47, no. 3, pp. 36-43, May/June 2011.
  2. C. Jacobs, J. S. Tate, R. Schultz, E. Trevino, S. Gaikwad, J. Koo, B. Williams, and A. Matthes,  “Development of MWCNT modified phenolic carbon nanocomposites for rocket nozzle: collaboration with Fredericksburg High-school”, International SAMPE Technical Conference (ISTC 2011), Forth Worth, TX, USA, Oct 17-21, 2011.  ID#1726.
  3. J. S. Tate, C. J. Jacobs, and J. Koo, “Dispersion of MWCNT in phenolic resin using different dispersion techniques and evaluation of thermal properties”,. International SAMPE Symposium and Exhibition (ISSE 2011), Long Beach, CA, USA, May 23-26, 2011. ID#1261.
  4. J. S. Tate, D. Kabakov, and J.Koo, “Carbon/phenolic nanocomposites for ablative applications” International SAMPE (The Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering) Technical Conference (ISTC 2010), Salt Lake City, UT, USA, Oct 11-14, 2010, ID# 670. 

 

References

1. Ablation, Mechanical and Thermal Conductivity Properties of Vapor Grown Carbon Fiber/Phenolic Matrix Composites. Patton, R. D., et al. 33, s.l. : Elsevier, 2002, Composites, Vol. Part A, pp. 243-251.
2. Kinetics and Thermophysical Properties of Polymer Nanocompostes for Solid Rocket Motor Insulation. Ho, David W. K., Koo, Joseph H. and Ezekoye, Ofodike A. [ed.] T. Lin. 3, 2009, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets, Vol. 46, pp. 526-545.
3. National Nanotechnology Initiative. National Nanotechnology Initiative. [Online] November 20, 2009. [Cited: November 20, 2009.] http://www.nano.gov/html/about/home_about.html.
4. A Review - Phenolic and Related Resins and Their Nanomodification Into Phenolic Resin FRP System. Pilato, L.A, et al. 2008, Journal of Advanced Materials, Vol. 40, pp. 5-16.
5. Polymer Nanostructured Materials for Propulsion Systems. Koo, Joseph H., Pilato, Louis A. and Wissler, Gerry E. [ed.] K. Wurster. 2007, Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets.
6. Mechanical Properties of Phenolic-Based Nanocomposites Reinforced by Multy-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Fiber. Yeh, Meng-Kao, Tai, Nyan-Hwa and Lin, Yan-Jyun. 39, s.l. : Elsevier, 2009, Composites, Vol. Part A, pp. 677-684.