Eco-Friendly Redemption of Butyl Rubber in Cost Efficient Ablative Composites for Aerospace Applications

Disposal management of waste, discarded and unserviceable Butyl Rubber (BR) is a matter of environmental concern which requires immediate attention. Wastage of expensive rubber which is used in all types of rubber gaskets, seals and hoses, should be recycled and reused for reclamation of the rubber raw materials. The present study proposes novel, ecological and prudent heat resistant hybrid composites of Resorcinol Formaldehyde (RF) and waste BR, fabricated through in-situ polymerization and tested under oxyacetylene flame at 2300 degrees C for 60 s for ablative properties. The composite exhibits high ablation resistance, quantified by a drop of Mass Ablation Rate from 0.079 for pristine RF to 0.068 compared to pristine resin due to increase in the formation and retention of insulative turbostratic char. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) reveals the degradation traits with a 13% enhanced char residue up to 800 degrees C. These composites pose competition with respect to cost effective heat shields as Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) in re-entry vehicles and space shuttles and fire proofing materials.