Technical Product Bulletin
ABLATIVE THERMAL COMPOUND ADHESIVE
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
AA-BOND K5NA is a three-part ablative thermal compound adhesive, widely used in critical aerospace applications due to its superior ablative properties.
Recommended by NASA for use on the solid rocket boosters that launch the Agency's Space Shuttles, AA-BOND K5NA is a smooth, trowellable paste specified for closeout and patching of thermal protection systems.
It cures at room temperature and develops strong bonds to most metals, ceramics, glass, glass fabrics, and many rigid plastics. The fully cured compound offers excellent dimensional stability over a wide temperature range, superior low-temperature mechanical and impact resistance, and excellent resistance to weathering, ozone, and moisture.
PRODUCT PROPERTIES
| Color | Light Brown |
| Cure Type | Room Temperature or Heat Cure |
| Benefits |
|
| Mix Ratio by Weight | 100:75:25 Resin to Hardener to Filler |
| Operating Temperature | -40°C (-40°F) to +135°C (275°F) |
| Substrates | Metals, metal substrates, glass, glass fabrics, ceramics, and many rigid plastics |
| Typical Applications | Filling voids, fairing out wires, tubing, and other surface protrusions on hypersonic re-entry bodies, nose cones, and aircraft engines; cushioning and impact-absorbing material around explosive charges |
UNCURED PROPERTIES
| Specific Gravity, Mixed | 0.60 ±0.06 |
| Viscosity @ 25°C | Thick Paste |
| Reactive Solids Contents, % | 100 |
| Pot Life | 30 minutes |
| Shelf Life | 1 year |
CURE SCHEDULE
| 24-48 Hours | 25°C (77°F) |
| 3-5 Hours | 65°C (149°F) |
CURED PROPERTIES
| Hardness, Shore D | 29 |
| Tensile Strength, PSI | 250-450 |
| Elongation, % | 30-45 |
GENERAL INFORMATION
For safe handling information on this product, consult the Safety Data Sheet (SDS).
HOW TO USE
- Carefully clean and dry all surfaces to be bonded.
- Pour the container part B (hardener) into the container part A (resin) and mix until a homogenous color is achieved. Then pour the container (filler) and mix until the filler is dispersed uniformly.
- AA-BOND K5NA has a 30-minute pot life after all three parts are mixed.
- Apply the mixed product to the prepared surfaces.
- AA-BOND K5NA develops most of its major mechanical and structural properties after 24 hours at room temperature (overnight @ 25°C). Longer cures up to 72 hours may be required for fully matured bonds. The mechanical properties can also be obtained more rapidly by curing from 3 to 5 hours at 65°C when higher cure temperatures are possible.
AVAILABILITY
This epoxy can be supplied in many different packages.
Data Sheets: TDS | MSDS available upon request.
