A kinetic model of the pyrolysis of phenolic resin in a carbon/phenolic composite

The potential for damage during the pyrolysis of phenolic/carbon composite material in the processing of carbon/carbon components is high. Accurately modeling the kinetics of the pyrolysis reaction could lead to improvements in processing. A mechanism for the pyrolysis of phenolic/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 evaluate the three major regions of the reaction. Kinetic parameters for each region have been determined using a thermogravimetric data analysis method developed to account for the effect of temperature variation on the thermodynamic state of the pyrolyzing composite. The resulting model is shown to accurately predict the extent of reaction of the pyrolyzing phenolic/carbon composite as a function of temperature. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.