0D Nanofillers in EPDM-Based Elastomeric Ablatives: A Review of Thermo-Ablative Performance and Char Formation
Meiirbekov M. Nurguzhin M. Janikeyev M. Kadyrov Z. Sadykov M. Kuandyk A. Yesbolov N. Spandiyar N. Nurzhanov M. Orazbek S.
February 2026Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Polymers
2026#18Issue 3
EPDM is widely used as the polymer matrix for solid rocket motor (SRM) internal thermal protection because of its low density, chemical inertness, and ability to form carbonaceous residue. Practical performance is frequently limited by weak char integrity and barrier properties, char oxidation, mechanical stripping in gas-dynamic flow, and by the poor comparability of published results due to non-uniform test conditions and reporting. This review systematizes studies on 0D nanofillers in EPDM ablatives and harmonizes the key metrics, including linear and mass ablation rates (LAR, MAR), back-face temperature (Tback), and solid residue yield. The major 0D additives-nSiO2, nTiO2, nZnO, and carbon black (CB) are compared, and their dominant mechanisms are summarized: degradation-layer structuring, reduced gas permeability, thermo-oxidative stabilization, and effects on vulcanization. Several studies report larger improvements for hybrid systems, where CB enhances char cohesion and retention, while oxide nanoparticles improve barrier performance and resistance to oxidation. Finally, an application-oriented selection matrix is proposed that accounts for thermal protection efficiency, processability, agglomeration limits, and density penalties to support EPDM coating design and improve comparability.
0D nanofillers , ablation , carbon black , char layer formation , EPDM , metal oxide nanoparticles , SRM , thermo-ablative composites
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Joint-Stock Company “National Center of Space Research and Technology”, Almaty, 050010, Kazakhstan
Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Department of Automation and Control, Institute of Telecommunications and Automation, Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications Named After Gumarbek Daukeyev, Almaty, 050013, 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
Joint-Stock Company “National Center of Space Research and Technology”
Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics
Department of Automation and Control
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