Enhanced thermal and anti‐ablation properties of high‐temperature resistant reactive POSS modified boron phenolic resin.

To further improve the anti‐ablation property of boron phenolic resin (BPR), high‐temperature resistant reactive trisilanolheptaphenyl POSS (3OH‐POSS) was synthesized to modify BPR. The thermal stability of BPR was significantly improved. The initial decomposition temperature of the prepared 3OH‐POSS modified BPR (POSSBPR) was increased from 226.0 to 390.2°C and the chars at 800 and 1000°C was increased from 71.1 and 66.7% to 75.1 and 73.7%, respectively with 20% 3OH‐POSS addition. The prepared POSSBPR castings obtained linear ablation rate (LAR) and mass ablation rate (MAR) were as low as −0.122 mm/s and 0.0465 g/s. And the LAR and MAR of high silica fiber reinforced composites (HSC/POSSBPR) were 0.123 mm/s and 0.0602 g/s, respectively. Moreover, the mechanism of high‐temperature carbon microcrystalline and ceramic structure transformation, and ablation performance enhancement of POSSBPR were determined by X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. Results indicated that the introduction of 3OH‐POSS promotes the formation of ordered graphite structure of BPR and forms high‐temperature species, such as SiC ceramic, on the ablated surface, which subsequently improves the ablation resistance of the material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]