Microstructural and thermal analysis of alumina modified carbon/phenolic composites after ablation testing

Thermal and ablative performance of alumina-modified carbon phenolic composites has been experimentally investigated. Pristine, 2, 4, and 6wt.% alumina particles modified composites were fabricated by hand layup followed by vacuum bagging process. Linear ablation rate was determined by the oxyacetylene flame test whereas thermogravimetric analysis determined thermal stability. Furthermore, SEM and EDS were done on ablated samples for morphological and elemental analysis whereas to determine individual phases, XRD was done. It was found that the addition of alumina initially at 2wt.% enhanced the ablation resistance but with further increase in the concentration of alumina above 2wt.%, ablation resistance decreased. Thermogravimetric analysis found that char yield of alumina-modified composites increased with an increase in alumina concentration.