Insulation precursors, rocket motors, and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11753544-B2
Application number	US-202017084353-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2020
Priority date	Jul 25, 2018
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

An insulation material includes a matrix comprising a reaction product formed from a silicon carbide precursor resin and a silicon dioxide precursor resin. At least one filler, such as hollow glass microspheres and/or carbon fiber is dispersed within the matrix. A rocket motor includes a case, the insulation material within and bonded to the case, and a solid propellant within the case. An insulation precursor includes a silicon carbide precursor resin, a silicon dioxide precursor resin, and the at least one filler. Related methods are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An insulation precursor, comprising:
a silicon carbide precursor resin;
a silicon dioxide precursor resin; and
at least one filler material selected from the group consisting of a low density filler and an ablation enhancement filler.

2. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the silicon dioxide precursor resin comprises an organically modified silicon dioxide preceramic polymer.

3. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , further comprising a catalyst.

4. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesion promoter.

5. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the silicon dioxide precursor resin exhibits a density from about 0.95 g/cm 3 to about 1.05 g/cm 3 .

6. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the silicon carbide precursor resin exhibits a density from about 1.10 g/cm 3 to about 1.25 g/cm 3 .

7. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the insulation precursor comprises:
from about 5% to about 10% silicon carbide precursor resin by weight;
from about 50% to about 85% silicon dioxide precursor resin by weight;
from about 1% to about 5% crosslinking agent by weight;
from about 5% to about 10% hollow glass microspheres by weight; and
from about 1% to about 5% carbon fiber by weight.

8. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the insulation precursor consists essentially of:
the silicon carbide precursor resin;
the silicon dioxide precursor resin;
a crosslinking agent;
hollow glass microspheres;
carbon fiber;
a catalyst; and
an adhesion promoter.

9. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the insulation precursor exhibits a viscosity of less than about 100,000 cP at 25° C.

10. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the insulation precursor exhibits a pot life of at least about 30 days at 25° C.

11. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the insulation precursor comprises from about 40% by weight to about 90% by weight the silicon dioxide precursor resin.

12. The insulation precursor of claim 1 , wherein the at least one filler material comprises the ablation enhancement filler, the ablation enhancement filler comprising carbon fiber.

Assignees

• Northrop Grumman Systems Corp

Inventors

• Garcia Benjamin W C
• Larson Robert S

Classifications

• F02K9/34 Primary

  Casings; Combustion chambers; Liners thereof · CPC title

• C08L83/02 Primary

  Polysilicates · CPC title

• C08G77/60

  in which all the silicon atoms are connected by linkages other than oxygen atoms · CPC title

• C09D183/16

  in which all the silicon atoms are connected by linkages other than oxygen atoms · CPC title

• F02K9/32

  Constructional parts; Details not otherwise provided for · CPC title