Micro and nanostructured carbon-phenolic ablators modified by PVP addition

• DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2024.113014
• Publication Date: 2024-05-11T05:15:25Z
• Authors: Laura Paglia; Rita Bottacchiari; Flavio Cognigni; Sara Cerra; Virgilio Genova; Marco Rossi; Ilaria Fratoddi; Francesco Marra; Giovanni Pulci
• Keywords: Polyvinylpyrrolidone; Carbon fibers

Carbon-phenolic ablators can efficiently protect space vehicles from the extreme temperatures typical of reentry phase in a planet's atmosphere. Their performances are attributed to low thermal conductivity and decomposition phenolic resin. These phenomena strongly influenced by materials microstructure. In present work, standard polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-modified carbon-phenolic were manufactured characterized: influence PVP on final microstructure chemistry was studied through SEM-EDS, X-ray Microscopy (XRM) analysis FTIR technique; mechanical properties evaluated compression tests virgin charred samples while ablative performance with an oxyacetylene flame exposure test. Weak bonds between resin chains observed. The ablators, both before after flame, is addition, furthermore addition 10 20 %wt guarantee reduction about 30 % back temperature during test respect ablator. Compression enlighten also improvement for PVP-enriched particular considering their state.