Method of constructing insulated metal dome structure for a rocket motor

Abstract

An elastomerized phenolic resin ablative insulation particularly suitable for use in connection with the thermal insulation of selected components of rocket motors. A composition for making the elastomerized ablative insulation is disclosed. Furthermore, an associated method of forming calendered sheets of material formed of the composition is disclosed. The preferred ingredients of the disclosed composition include acrylonitryle butadiene rubber, zinc borate, and phenol formaldehyde resin which can be cured and bonded to structures such as domes of open-ended rocket motors and other rocket motor components. The subject elastomerized ablative insulation is well suited for use independently or in connection with other insulative materials to form a thermal barrier which is highly resistant to the heat and the erosive nature associated with the combustion of propellant fuels, for example.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A composition for a curable ablative insulative elastomerized rubber material, comprising: 
 acrylonitrile butadiene rubber;    zinc borate;    phenol formaldehyde resin;    zinc oxide;    tetramethyl thiuram disulfide; and    stearic acid.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the maximum parts by weight of each constituent is approximately: 
 acrylonitrile butadiene rubber—100;    zinc borate—80;    phenol formaldehyde resin—120;    zinc oxide—5;    tetramethyl thiuram disulfide—3; and    stearic acid—2.    
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the phenol formaldehyde resin is ground and screened to approximately 100 mesh, and the ground and screened phenol formaldehyde resin and zinc borate ingredients are preweighed and premixed together to form a stoichiometric master batch wherein the zinc borate acts as a partitioning agent to inhibit agglomeration of the phenol formaldehyde resin.  
     
     
         4 . A composition for an curable ablative insulative elastomerized phenolic resin material, comprising: 
 at least one curable rubber;    at least one flame retardant;    at least one phenolic resin; and    at least one curing system constituent.    
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the maximum parts by weight of each constituent of the composition is approximately: 
 the at least one curable rubber—100;    the at least one flame retardant—80;    the at least one phenolic resin—120; and    the at least one curing system constituent—10.    
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one phenolic resin and the at least one flame retardant constituents are preweighed and premixed together to form a stoichiometric master batch wherein the at least one flame retardant acts as a partitioning agent to inhibit agglomeration of the phenolic resin, to which at least one of the other constituents is subsequently added.