Ablator composition
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsJim L. Wong, George P. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
During the application of heat the intumescent coating is transformed into a swollen char material, which acts as a thermal barrier to eliminate or minimize incoming heat flux. It also acts as a mass transfer barrier, inhibiting oxygen from reaching the thermally insulative ablative material. During the intumescence process, the swollen material will also back fill into interstices within the ablative material and char to enhance their strength. The intumescent coating also acts as a moisture barrier to protect the thermally insulative ablative material from ambient elements such as moisture.
Claims21
A base for a launch vehicle, comprising:
- a) a base structure;
- and
- b) an ablator composition covering at least a portion of said base structure, comprising;
- i) a thermally insulative ablative material being transformable to char material during application of sufficient heat;
- and
- ii) a light reflecting intumescent coating covering said term any insulative ablative material, said intumescent coating being transformable into a swollen char material during application of sufficient heat, the swollen char material of the intumesent coating for strengthening the char material of the ablative material, said intumescent coating comprising metallic particulate capable of reflecting light in the range of 0.4 to 10 microns (μm).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.