Abstract—In this novel research, aluminum silicate fibers were incorporated into ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber to fabricate ablative composites, achieve better ablation performance, and thermal endurance for ultrahigh temperature applications. Variant concentrations of ceramic fibers (CFs) were impregnated in the elastomeric matrix. Ablation testing of the composite specimens was carried out according to ASTM E285-08, in which oxy– acetylene torch was used as a high temperature source. The obtained results showed that anti-ablation performance of the polymer composites was remarkably augmented with increasing fiber concentration in the polymer matrix. Thermal decomposition of the fabricated composites was diminished with the progressive incorporation of CFs in the EPDM matrix. Ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus of elasticity were reduced due to the weak fiber to matrix interaction while Shore A rubber hardness was augmented with increasing fiber to matrix ratio. Voids formation & polymer pyrolysis of the ablated specimens, char reinforcement interaction, CFs dispersion in the polymer matrix, elemental analysis and fiber diameter measurement of the CF, and the compositional analysis of ablative composite were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy.
Index Terms—Ablative composites, ceramic fibers, mechanical properties, thermal degradation, thermal conductivity, temperature evolution.
Nadeem Iqbal and Sadia Sagar are with School of Chemical & Materials Engineering (SCME), NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan (e-mail: nadeemiqbal@scme.nust.edu.pk, nadeeem.iqbal313@hotmail.com).
Mohammad Bilal Khan is with Centre for Energy Systems (CES), NUST, Islamabad, Pakistan (e-mail: author@nrim.go.jp).
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Cite:Nadeem Iqbal, Sadia Sagar, and Mohammad Bilal Khan, "Comprehensive Ablation Characteristics of Ceramic Fibers Impregnated Rubber Composites," International Journal of Engineering and Technology vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 162-167, 2014.