Ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber-based heat shielding materials for solid rocket motor: Impact of Kevlar fiber reinforcement on the thermal and mechanical properties

This work scrutinizes the utilization of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber matrix (EPDM) with an embodiment of aramid fiber for the heat shielding applications in solid rocket motor (SRM). Aramid fibers are aromatic poly-paraphenylene terephthalamide, here deployed are Kevlar fibers (KF). However, the literature that encompasses the thermal and mechanical behavior with the fiber loading is reported nowhere else. The effect of fiber addition on the surface morphology and density was thoroughly studied, and it revealed that the EHSMs were of lower density to act as an efficient payload for the SRM. In this regard, the thermal conductivity, heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, fire behavior, and mechanical properties of the EPDM/KF-based EHSMs were explored. The results revealed that the EHSMs are thermally insulating and thermally stable material with balanced mechanical properties that can engender the thermal and mechanical strains of the rocket motor. Furthermore, other analytical techniques such as scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy have been exploited to monitor the performance of the char residues of the EHSM to delineate its performance in the fire atmosphere.