Charring ablators
Ablative materials in design and construction, are materials that are generally resistant to high temperatures in one of three ways and used for thermal protection. Charring ablators, partially burn and blacken, creating a greater surface thermal resistance.
Charring ablation describes where the surface chemical reaction (decomposition at high temperature) gradually consumes the char layer of the material, so is completely decomposed. For example in a char rating, which measures the depth of char of a timber being burnt, divided by the time period for this to occur, where a lower char rate indicates a slower rate of burn.
In doing this ablative materials may pyrolyse mitigating a heat load, so in effect they decompose or change as a result of the heat being applied. These types of materials are often carbon related composites such as Teflon.
Two other types of ablative materials are subliming ablators and Intumescent ablators.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
Comments
[edit] o make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.