Morteza Fini Bidgoli - Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Mehrdad Kokabi - Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Fatemeh Arabgol - Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Elastomeric ablative composites were processed and characterized to elucidate the potential of silica aerogel in improving the thermal stability of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) nanocomposites. Silica aerogel was properly dispersed within NBR matrix using a two roll mill. Thermal gravimetric analysis was carried out using a thermal gravimetric analyzer. The results revealed that the thermal characteristics were significantly improved with adding silica aerogel in the presence of coupling agent. The maximum degradation temperature and the final char residue were increased about 17 C and 9.9%, respectively

Silica Aerogel, Nanocomposites, NBR, Thermal Insulation