A Comprehensive Review of Application Techniques for Thermal-Protective Elastomeric Ablative Coatings in Solid Rocket Motor Combustion Chambers

Meiirbekov M. Nurguzhin M. Ismailov M. Janikeyev M. Kadyrov Z. Omarbayev M. Kuandyk A. Yesbolov N. Nurzhanov M. Orazbek S. Sadykov M.
February 2026 Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Technologies
2026 #14 Issue 2

Elastomeric ablative coatings are essential for protecting solid rocket motor (SRM) combustion chambers from extreme thermal and erosive environments, and their performance is governed by both material composition and processing strategy. This review examines the main elastomer systems used for SRM insulation, including ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), polyurethane (PU), silicone-based compounds, and related hybrids, and discusses how their rheological behavior, cure kinetics, thermal stability, and ablation mechanisms affect manufacturability and in-service performance. A comprehensive assessment of coating technologies is presented, covering casting, molding, centrifugal forming, spraying, automated deposition, and emerging additive-manufacturing approaches for complex geometries. Emphasis is placed on processing parameters that control adhesion to metallic substrates, layer uniformity, defect formation, and thermomechanical integrity under high-heat-flux exposure. The review integrates current knowledge on how material choice, surface preparation, and application sequence collectively determine insulation efficiency under operational SRM conditions. Practical aspects such as scalability, compatibility with complex chamber architectures, and integration with quality-control tools are highlighted. By comparing the capabilities and limitations of different materials and technologies, the study identifies key development trends and outlines remaining challenges for improving the durability, structural robustness, and ablation resistance of next-generation elastomeric coatings for SRMs.

additive manufacturing , elastomeric ablative coatings , EPDM , HTPB , NBR , polyurethane , solid rocket motors , thermal protection

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JSC “National Center of Space Research and Technology”, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
School of Materials Science and Green Technologies, Kazakh-British Technical University, Almaty, 050005, Kazakhstan
Mining and Metallurgical Institute Named After O.A. Baikonurov, Kazakh National Research Technical University Named After K.I. Satbayev, Almaty, 050043, Kazakhstan

JSC “National Center of Space Research and Technology”
Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
School of Materials Science and Green Technologies
Mining and Metallurgical Institute Named After O.A. Baikonurov

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026