Characterizing TPS Microstructure – Review of Some Techniques to Capture and Quantify Scale of Microstructure
Start Date
2-3-2011 11:05 AM
Description
Adequately characterizing the Thermal Protection System (TPS) of an entry vehicle is one of the key components of vehicle design. Lightweight charring ablative materials such as PICA and SIRCA consist of a porous matrix filled with a polymeric ablative component. These materials have highly porous microstructures (>80%). Characterizing the scale of the porosity, the surface area of the various phases and the morphology of the polymeric components is insightful and necessary to support model development. This presentation will highlight techniques useful in characterizing these ablators with emphasis on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Accelerated Surface Area and Porosimetry System (ASAP).
Characterizing TPS Microstructure – Review of Some Techniques to Capture and Quantify Scale of Microstructure
Adequately characterizing the Thermal Protection System (TPS) of an entry vehicle is one of the key components of vehicle design. Lightweight charring ablative materials such as PICA and SIRCA consist of a porous matrix filled with a polymeric ablative component. These materials have highly porous microstructures (>80%). Characterizing the scale of the porosity, the surface area of the various phases and the morphology of the polymeric components is insightful and necessary to support model development. This presentation will highlight techniques useful in characterizing these ablators with emphasis on Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Accelerated Surface Area and Porosimetry System (ASAP).