A KINETIC-MODEL OF THE PYROLYSIS OF PHENOLIC RESIN IN A CARBON PHENOLIC COMPOSITE/

The potential for damage during the pyrolysis of phenolic/carbon compo site material in the processing of carbon/carbon components is high. A ccurately modeling the kinetics of the pyrolysis reaction could lead t o improvements in processing. A mechanism for the pyrolysis of phenoli c/carbon composite describing the reaction as occurring in three major regions is the foundation of a kinetic model. The peak separation of thermogravimetric weight loss data has been used to separately evaluat e the three major regions of the reaction. Kinetic parameters for each region have been determined using a thermogravimetric data analysis m ethod developed to account for the effect of temperature variation on the thermodynamic state of the pyrolyzing composite. The resulting mod el is shown to accurately predict the extent of reaction of the pyroly zing phenolic/carbon composite as a function of temperature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.