IMPROVEMENT OF THE PROPERTIES OF INSULATING POLYMERS USING ARAMID FIBER FOR SOLID ROCKET MOTOR INSULATION

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Graduate student, Concordia Center for Composites, Department of Mechanical and industrial Engineering, Center for Research on Polymers and Composites (CREPEC), Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

2 Professor, Director, Concordia Center for Composites, Department of Mechanical and industrial Engineering, Center for Research on Polymers and Composites (CREPEC) Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Development and characterization of asbestos-free rubbers for use as rocket motor insulators are presented. Such insulation is based on aramid fiber in the pulp form as reinforcement for Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) in the liquid form.
Aramid fiber (Kevlar) in the pulp form has been used and characterized as EPDM filler material. This method permits manufacturing EPDM rocket motor insulation in which Kevlar pulps are dispersed and immobilized in the EPDM polymeric matrix. A detailed description and procedure for the mixing cycle is explained. The curing methodology was justified. Kevlar pulp/EPDM has been shown to exhibits better thermal properties than its asbestos containing counterpart. Its thermal characteristics however fall short of some of the best asbestos insulators.
Insulation material description, processing and manufacturing techniques are discussed along with thermal properties (effective thermal conductivity, effective specific heat capacity and effective thermal diffusivity). The physical and mechanical properties (density, hardness, tensile strength and elongation) of different compositions were obtained. The ablation resistance was measured. Thermo-gravimetric analyses versus Kevlar pulp content, as well as a differential scanning calorimetry are discussed. The effect of changing Kevlar pulp volume fraction was studied. Also a comparison of Kevlar pulp/EPDM's performance (both thermally and mechanically) with other rocket motor insulating materials was done.
Kevlar pulp filled EPDM has been shown to exhibit better thermal, mechanical, physical and ablative properties than its asbestos containing counterpart.

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