Have you considered using starlight? I've never used it before on any of my
motors but I have considered it for the future.
Its not 'easily available' per se but it can be made using easily available
materials. And is a terrific insulator. You can shape it into any geometry
and allow it to dry for maximum performance.
Here <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqR4_UoBIzY> is a link to the most
popular video on how to make starlight
I've been thinking about trying to making the liner for the propellant
grains using starlite and cardboard.
I have no idea if it will work but here it goes for the internet to judge
So you know how we make normal paper tubes
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGVfA97aK3w> by wrapping them around a rod
of required ID and adding layers with wood adhesive glue. It usually makes
a hella strong paper tube but to get it to insulate we have to make it
thicker. Its not really a problem but it does reduce our volume loading by
a little bit. So if we could get the same insulation with less thickness
that would be great.
I was thinking of making the 'starlight dough' but making it extra runny so
you can apply it to the layers of paper we add (Since it already has glue
in it) and hopefully get a similar insulating characteristic on the liner.
The reason I doubt this will work though is because starlight probably gets
its insulating property because of 1) the Ablative-ness and 2) The
microstructure, I'm assuming that as the starlight dries the baking soda in
it released CO2 and this forms gas bubbles which stay trapped in the
material. This would create a similar structure to aerogel and make the
material very insulative.
But it we make it too runny maybe the gas will just escape or just not be
that much at all and we'll just end up with a normal liner that tastes like
cornstarch and glue. 🤷♂️
- Pavitra
On Thu, Feb 23, 2023 at 7:30 PM Raum <Rocketry101@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi guys,
After experimenting with plastic (3d printed, glass transition around 60
celsius) model rockets, I found that it is pretty feasible. However between
the motor casing and the plastic body tube there is a pretty good insulator
needed. For 38mm and 54mm motors it is enough to use a cardboard tube, but
anything higher, I am not comfortable enough with cardboard. Do you guys
have some recommendations for ‘easy’ to find materials?