An Unusual Sandwich-Structure Composites with Lightweight and Outstanding High-Temperature Resistance Up to 1200°C

Abstract

Developing materials that heat protection and insulation integrated at higher temperature (≥1000°C), was of prime importance for thermal protection of aerospace vehicles, but significant challenge remained. Aerogels were attractive candidates for thermal protection due to their excellent thermal stability and thermal insulation. However, their poor anti-ablative performance, as well as brittleness and low mechanical strength severely limit their practical use. Here, an unusual sandwich-structured composites with high structural strength and thermal stability was reported. On the top and the back was a lightweight SiO2f/SiO2 composites, fiber-reinforced aerogel composites as the thermal insulation layers. Structural and functional composites were integrated via a needle piercing process to form a sandwich structure. The resulting material showed excellent anti-ablation resistance and outstanding thermal insulation. The composites had a lower density (0.495 g/cm3) and high-temperature resistance up to 1200°C. The composites did not undergo any damage after quartz heating to 1200°C for 1200s. This work provided a new way to improve the anti-ablation resistance and anti-oxidation property for higher temperature thermal protection in aerospace vehicles.

Keywords: Composites, lightweight, Sandwich-structure, Thermal protection system, High temperature, Thermal Insulation