Effect of Ply Orientation on Thermal Erosion and Conductivity of Silica Phenolic Composites Under Oxy-Acetylene Flame

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 01 | Page : 273 283
    By

    Pallela Ravinder,

  • P. Ramesh Babu,

  • Soppari Bhanu Murthy,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
  2. Senior Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College of Engineering, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
  3. Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vallurupalli Nageswara Rao Vignana Jyothi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Abstract

The thermal and erosion performance of fiber-reinforced composites is highly sensitive to fiber architecture, matrix chemistry, and processing techniques, factors that have shaped development of advanced thermal protection systems (TPS) over past two decades. Silica phenolic (SP) composites, in particular, are widely employed in aerospace and defense applications due to their flame resistance, char stability, and ability to withstand severe thermal shock. However, optimizing thermal conductivity while improving erosion resistance remains a key challenge in designing durable ablative materials. In this study, SP composites with varying ply orientations were fabricated using hand-lay-up technique to investigate the role of fiber-lay-up configuration on thermo-mechanical behavior. Four rosette lay-ups SP0, SP15, SP20, and SP25 were systematically evaluated through erosion and thermal conductivity testing. Erosion experiments revealed material loss rates of 0.0300, 0.0117, 0.0100, and 0.0067 mm s⁻¹ for SP0, SP15, SP20, and SP25, respectively, clearly demonstrating beneficial effect of angled ply orientation. Among all tested specimens, SP25 lay-up exhibited lowest erosion rate, indicating enhanced resistance to particle impact and surface degradation. Thermal conductivity analysis across a temperature range from ambient to 550°C further confirmed that SP25 configuration achieved superior thermal stability compared to other orientations. The combined results highlight that angled ply orientations, particularly at 25°, significantly improve both erosion resistance and thermal conductivity control, thereby reducing delamination tendencies and enhancing overall durability under extreme heat flux conditions. This study establishes that carefully optimized lay-up architectures can simultaneously meet conflicting demands of thermal insulation and structural integrity in ablative systems. Improvements in erosion resistance and thermal stability make SP25 configuration a promising.

Keywords: Ablative composites, erosion, rosette lay-up, silica phenolic prepreg, thermal conductivity.

[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer & Composites ]

How to cite this article:
Pallela Ravinder, P. Ramesh Babu, Soppari Bhanu Murthy. Effect of Ply Orientation on Thermal Erosion and Conductivity of Silica Phenolic Composites Under Oxy-Acetylene Flame. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):273-283.
How to cite this URL:
Pallela Ravinder, P. Ramesh Babu, Soppari Bhanu Murthy. Effect of Ply Orientation on Thermal Erosion and Conductivity of Silica Phenolic Composites Under Oxy-Acetylene Flame. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):273-283. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=237643


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 14
Issue 01
Received 04/10/2025
Accepted 07/11/2025
Published 25/02/2026
Publication Time 144 Days
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