Processing Mechanical Test Specimens of Charred Solid Rocket Motor Insulation Materials

摘要

The method described herein for producing test specimens of charred insulation material addresses many of the problems associated with traditional methods. Using a nitrogen-flooded tube furnace with a slow heating rate, premachined pieces of reinforced EPDM insulation were charred and successfully tested to measure the shear strengths of the charred materials. Charred materials from this furnace were virtually identical to material recovered from a fired test motor and tested to prove that each material charred would demonstrate unique properties and morphology.