Experimental investigation of erosion rate of insulation materials using hybrid rockets

Abstract

Thermal insulation is essential to protect the exposed surface from high-temperature and high heat flux situations. The selection of suitable insulation materials plays a crucial role in determining rocket performance. Testing of these materials for their erosion rate is possible only if the required high heat flux conditions are met. This testing is more amenable with hybrid rockets than with solid and liquid rockets. The present study is to examine the erosion of few materials using a lab-scale hybrid rocket motor. The heat flux experienced by the fuel surface is measured using slug type calorimeter. Erosion rates of 4 different materials under these heat flux conditions are reported in the paper. A correlation is presented in the paper between erosion rate and heat flux for the materials tested.

Keywords

• Hybrid rockets
• Erosion rate
• Fuel surface heat flux
• Insulation materials
• Wax based hybrid rockets