Study of Ablative Thermal Protection System with Functionally Graded Materials

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18K04567
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 24010:Aerospace engineering-related
• Research Institution: Japan Aerospace EXploration Agency
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Toshiyuki 国立研究開発法人宇宙航空研究開発機構, 宇宙科学研究所, 主任研究開発員 (20392839)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: アブレータ / 傾斜機能材料

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Functionally graded ablative materials with density gradient were newly developed for the thermal protection system of future space exploration missions. The ablating surface was densified to reduce the amount of surface recession, while the density inside the ablator was reduced with expectation of weight reduction and high heat insulation. Typical Bulk specific gravity was found to be about 0.8. Basic thermal characteristics of the developed ablative material were obtained by conducting heating tests. The manufacturability of the ablator was also confirmed by using not only the hot press but also an autoclave. The kinds of resin used for the prepreg were polyimide and phenol.

Free Research Field

航空宇宙工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

有効密度 0.8 の傾斜機能型アブレータについて，広い加熱環境において，同クラスの従来アブレータよりも摩耗率を30～50%低減できるポテンシャルが示されたことは非常に意義深い．また見方を変えると，はやぶさアブレータと同等の損耗性能でありながら，はやぶさアブレータに比べて重量を40%以上低減できるポテンシャルが示されたことも重要である．