Title: Insulation Effectiveness Assessment of Thermal Barrier Materials

Authors: Marcos Pantoja

DOI:

Abstract: The high temperature operating capability of composite structures can be extended through the inclusion of a thermal barrier for both thermal insulation and environmental protection. Such barriers can mitigate thermal oxidative degradation by providing a physical shield hindering oxygen diffusion into the polymer matrix while also lowering heat radiation to the composite structure due to their low thermal conductivities, thus keeping the structure of interest at a lower temperature during service. Their combined thermal insulation properties have thrusted development of these materials in recent years as temperature capable structures are becoming prominent in many next generation aerospace designs. This work evaluates the effectiveness of several thermal barrier materials at preventing thermal degradation and lowering the temperature of bismaleimide/carbon composite laminates. The assessment involved inspecting the carbon laminate for micro-cracking and performing standard mechanical testing following accelerated thermal aging and thermal cycling of the insulated laminates. The thermal conductivity properties of the various thermal barriers were also verified through thermocouple-instrumented assemblies exposed to hot air. In all, these assessments provided a baseline understanding of the materials’ insulation performance which helped drive continued testing.

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Conference: SAMPE 2026

Publication Date: 2026/04/27

SKU: 48

Pages: 22

Price: $44.00