Fiber-reinforced rocket motor insulation
AssigneeAlliant Techsystems Inc.
InventorsAlbert R. Harvey, John W. Ellertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Insulation for a rocket motor is provided, as is a method for insulating a rocket motor. The insulation includes a cured elastomer and vapor-grown carbon fibers dispersed in the cured elastomer. The cured elastomer is preferably formed from a precursor composition comprising an EPDM terpolymer. Generally, the vapor-grown carbon fibers have an internal graphitized tube surrounded by a sheath of vapor-deposited amorphous carbon.
Claims28
An insulating material for a rocket motor that consists essentially of at least one cured elastomer, vapor-grown carbon fibers, at least one secondary polymer, at least one tackifier, at least one antioxidant, carbon black, at least one cure activator, at least one cure accelerator, and at least one cure agent.
A method for making an insulating material for a rocket motor, comprising:
- providing a composition that consists essentially of at least one crosslinkable polymer, vapor-grown carbon fibers, at least one secondary polymer, at least one tackifier, at least one antioxidant, carbon black, at least one cure activator, at least one cure accelerator, and at least one cure agent;
- dispersing the vapor-grown carbon fibers in the at least one crosslinkable polymer;
- and
- crosslinking the at least one crosslinkable polymer to form a cured elastomeric insulating material having the vapor-grown carbon fibers dispersed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.