Decomposition Characteristics of a Char-Forming Phenolic Polymer Used for Ablative Composites

Analysis of the decomposition characteristics of a phenol-formaldehyde polymer by differential thermal analysis, gas chromatography, and elemental analysis has shown the overall process to consist of a series of complex reactions ranging from low-temperature crosslinking (curing) to a high-temperatu...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Sykes, George F., Jr
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ABLATIVE MATERIALS
ABSORBERS(MATERIALS)
CARBON
CARBON PHENOLIC MATERIALS
CHARRING
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
CROSSLINKING(CHEMISTRY)
CURING
DIFFERENTIAL THERMAL ANALYSIS
ENERGY ABSORBERS
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HEAT SHIELDS
Laminates and Composite Materials
METHANE
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
OXIDATION
PHENOLIC PLASTICS
Plastics
POLYMERS
THERMAL DEGRADATION
Thermodynamics
VOLATILITY
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Summary:Analysis of the decomposition characteristics of a phenol-formaldehyde polymer by differential thermal analysis, gas chromatography, and elemental analysis has shown the overall process to consist of a series of complex reactions ranging from low-temperature crosslinking (curing) to a high-temperature reaction which results in a carbon char. The energy absorption through decomposition was found to be 293 kJ/kg over the temperature range between 350 C and 850 C. The efflux of volatile products corresponding to this decomposition consisted of components ranging in molecular weight from hydrogen to dimethylphenol (2 to 122). Fifty percent of the total moles identified were hydrogen and 23.4 percent and 10 percent were found to be water and methane, respectively. Analysis of the residue showed that the carbon char appeared over the 400 C to 850 C temperature range concurrent with the formation of volatile oxidized products. The char at 850 C was found to be 92.6 percent carbon, 0.9 percent hydrogen, and 6.5 percent oxygen.