ablator
/əˈbleɪtər/
noun
- A material that wears away or vaporizes to protect a surface from extreme heat, such as on a spacecraft during re-entry.
- The ablator protected the capsule from temperatures over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The heat shield was made of a special ablator that burned off during re-entry.
- Engineers tested a new ablator for the rocket's nose cone.