ablator
Burning protective layer
An ablator is a material designed to erode or vaporize in a controlled way, carrying heat away from whatever it protects.
Heat shields on spacecraft use ablative materials—as the surface burns off during reentry, it dissipates thermal energy that would otherwise destroy the craft.
In medicine, an ablator is a device that removes tissue, often using heat or cold: The surgeon used a cardiac ablator to destroy the abnormal tissue causing the arrhythmia.
Substance blocking temperature transfer
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- TPSTechnical three-letter abbreviation
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
Apollo · Space Shuttle · Orion · Mars lander · ballistic · hypersonic · nosecone
Barrier against extreme temperatures
- thermal protectionDefense against temperature extremes
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- charBurn without destroying
- resinViscous plant secretion
silica · ceramic · pyrolytic · charring · thermoset · refractory · tungsten · composite
Gradual wearing away
- wearing awayGradual loss through friction
- vaporizationConversion to gas
- sublimationSolid to gas directly
- charringBurning surface black
Inserted medical drainage tube
- electrosurgicalUsing current to cut tissue
- radiofrequencyElectromagnetic waves for communication
- cauterizationBurning tissue medically
- arrhythmiaAbnormal cardiac rhythm
thermal barrier
Substance blocking temperature transfer
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- TPSTechnical three-letter abbreviation
- spacecraftVehicle for outer space
capsule · Apollo · Space Shuttle · Orion · Mars lander · ballistic · hypersonic · nosecone
heat shield
Barrier against extreme temperatures
- thermal protectionDefense against temperature extremes
- phenolicOf hydroxybenzene compounds
- charBurn without destroying
resin · silica · ceramic · pyrolytic · charring · thermoset · refractory · tungsten · composite · insulation
erosion
Gradual wearing away
- wearing awayGradual loss through friction
- vaporizationConversion to gas
- sublimationSolid to gas directly
charring · sacrificial · consumption · degradation · outgassing
catheter
Inserted medical drainage tube
- electrosurgicalUsing current to cut tissue
- radiofrequencyElectromagnetic waves for communication
- cauterizationBurning tissue medically
arrhythmia · lesion · probe · electrode · generator · console
ablatorinsulator
Substance resisting energy flow
thermal insulation · insulating material · heat shield · ceramic tile · heat sink
- ablative materialsSubstances that erode protectively