Phenyl silicone rubber exhibits excellent high-temperature resistance, ablation resistance, and flame retardant properties in aircraft flame shield applications, making it an indispensable key material in modern aerospace.
I. Perfect Match Between Phenyl Silicone Rubber Characteristics and Flame Shield Requirements
1. Core Performance Advantages
Wide Temperature Range Stability: Phenyl silicone rubber has a working temperature range of -70℃ to 350℃, and the short-term use temperature can be extended to -110℃ to 400℃, fully meeting the requirements of high-temperature environments (usually exceeding 300℃) in aircraft engine exhaust nozzles.
Ablation Resistance: High-phenyl silicone rubber (phenyl content above 30%) has excellent radiation resistance and superior ablation resistance, enabling it to withstand extreme thermal environments during rocket launch and flight, protecting critical components from high-temperature damage.
Flame Retardant and Self-Extinguishing Properties: Medium-phenyl silicone rubber (phenyl content 15-25%) has significant self-extinguishing properties, allowing it to quickly self-extinguish once ignited, greatly improving the fire safety level of the aircraft.

2. Special Requirements of Flame Shields
Aircraft flame shields (also known as flame deflectors) are critical safety devices installed at the take-off position of fighter jets, used to:
Block the powerful high-temperature airflow ejected from the fighter jet engine exhaust nozzle.
Prevent tail flames from burning deck personnel during carrier-based aircraft take-off.
Protect other aircraft and equipment on the deck from high-temperature damage.
These requirements are highly compatible with the characteristics of phenyl silicone rubber, making it an ideal choice for flame shield materials. II. Specific Applications of Phenyl Silicone Rubber in Aircraft Fire Shields
1. Material Preparation and Processing
Aircraft fire shields typically use high-phenyl silicone rubber (phenyl content above 30%) as the base material.
The phenyl silicone rubber is processed into the required fire shield shape through molding and extrusion processes.
Modifiers such as nanocomposite clay are added to further enhance the material's high-temperature resistance, flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and thermal insulation properties.
2. Performance Enhancement Technologies
Ceramization Technology: By adding specific fillers (such as phosphate glass powder), the phenyl silicone rubber forms a self-supporting ceramic structure at high temperatures, greatly improving fire resistance.
Interface Control: Implementing structural and interface design of micro- and nano-level nanocomposite clay to construct composite organosilicon elastomers, optimizing flame retardancy, smoke suppression, and ceramization mechanisms.
Pore Structure Control: Preparing high-temperature resistant, halogen-free, flame-retardant, smoke-suppressing, and heat-insulating elastic foam materials, achieving a limiting oxygen index ≥35% and a V-0 flammability rating.
3. Practical Application Cases
Aircraft Carrier Deck Fire Protection System: Modern aircraft carrier decks widely use fire shields made of phenyl silicone rubber, effectively protecting deck personnel and equipment.
Spacecraft Thermal Protection: In spacecraft, phenyl silicone rubber fire shields are used to protect sensitive electronic equipment from high engine temperatures.
Rocket Engine Protection: Used in critical parts of rocket engines such as nozzle throats and combustion chambers, providing ablation resistance.

III. Advantages and Challenges of Phenyl Silicone Rubber in Fire Shield Applications
1. Significant Advantages
Extreme Environment Adaptability: Maintains elasticity and sealing reliability under severe temperature cycles, adapting to the alternating high and low temperatures in satellite orbits.
Balanced Comprehensive Performance: Compared to traditional materials, phenyl silicone rubber achieves the best balance in high-temperature resistance, low-temperature resistance, and flame retardancy.
Lightweight Design: As a polymer material, phenyl silicone rubber fire shields are lighter than metal materials, helping to reduce aircraft weight.
2. Application Challenges
Processing Difficulty: High-phenyl silicone rubber is difficult to process and has relatively poor physical and mechanical properties, requiring special processing techniques.
Cost Factors: Compared to ordinary silicone rubber, phenyl silicone rubber has higher production costs, limiting its widespread application in certain fields.
Performance Optimization:  Precise control of phenyl content (low, medium, and high phenyl) is needed to meet the specific requirements of different application scenarios.

IV. Future Development Trends
With the continuous development of aerospace technology, phenyl silicone rubber in fire barrier applications is developing in the following directions:
High Performance: Further improving the high-temperature resistance and flame retardant properties of the material through molecular structure design and nanomaterial modification technology.
Multifunctional Integration: Developing composite materials that combine multiple functions such as heat insulation, flame retardancy, and electromagnetic shielding.
Environmental Protection and Safety: Developing halogen-free flame retardant systems to reduce the toxic and harmful gases produced during combustion.
Intelligentization: Combining sensor technology to develop intelligent fire barrier systems for real-time monitoring and early warning of fire risks.
Phenyl silicone rubber has already demonstrated irreplaceable advantages in aerospace fire barrier applications. With the continuous progress of materials science and the ongoing optimization of processing technology, its application prospects in aerospace safety and protection will be even broader.