Thermally resistant composite exhaust coupler

In combination, an engine having an exhaust manifold, an exhaust conduit located downstream of the exhaust manifold, and a thermally resistant exhaust coupler connecting the exhaust manifold to the exhaust conduit;

• wherein a spaced gap is located between the exhaust manifold to the exhaust conduit and exhaust gas moves through the gap from the exhaust manifold to the exhaust conduit through the gap and the thermally resistant exhaust coupler when the engine is running;
• wherein the thermally resistant exhaust coupler comprises an inner cylindrical surface and an outer cylindrical surface having a first distance therebetween, the first distance defining thickness, the thermally resistant exhaust coupler further comprising a top surface and a bottom surface having a second distance therebetween, the second distance defining a length of the thermally resistant exhaust coupler, wherein the inner cylindrical surface and outer cylindrical surface are constructed of an elastomeric polymer that extends 90% to 100% of the length of the thermally resistant exhaust coupler as at least one elastomeric polymer layer, and the thickness includes at least one thermally resistant fiber layer located between the inner cylindrical surface and outer cylindrical surface and extending the length of the thermally resistant exhaust coupler, wherein the thermally resistant exhaust coupler couples the exhaust manifold to the exhaust conduit;
• wherein the inner cylindrical surface is directly exposed to the exhaust gas and wherein the elastic polymer of the inner cylindrical surface decomposes into an insulating char retained within an adjacent thermally resistant fabric layer of the at least one thermally resistant fiber layers.