Super-resolved microstructure of pyrolyzing superlight ablators
Abstract The microstructural evolution of superlight ablators during pyrolysis was investigated using in situ X-ray micro-computed tomography and generative adversarial networks. Superlight ablators, a type of syntactic foam thermal protection materials, are commonly employed in the backshells of pl...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Series: | npj Materials Degradation |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41529-025-00556-z |
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| Summary: | Abstract The microstructural evolution of superlight ablators during pyrolysis was investigated using in situ X-ray micro-computed tomography and generative adversarial networks. Superlight ablators, a type of syntactic foam thermal protection materials, are commonly employed in the backshells of planetary entry probes. Synchrotron X-rays were used to resolve the material constituents during thermal degradation, including resin, silica microballoons, cork filler, refractory fibers, and voids. A super-resolution methodology was implemented, where high-resolution tomography scans were applied to denoise, segment and analyze lower-resolution in situ datasets that captured a large field of view. This multi-scale approach enabled the quantification of morphological and effective properties as a function of temperature during degradation, while also relating these changes to relevant decomposition chemistry. This study demonstrates a strategy for time-resolving rapid, multiphase decomposition events occurring under high-temperature test environments that mimic atmospheric entry. |
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| ISSN: | 2397-2106 |