Decomposition of carbon/phenolic composites for aerospace heatshields: Detailed speciation of phenolic resin pyrolysis products

Thermal Protection Materials (TPM) such as carbon/phenolic composites are used to protect spacecraft structures from extreme conditions. This protection is, in part, achieved by the decomposition via pyrolysis of phenolic resin. Finite rate chemistry models however still unable predict chemical production rates and composition products accurately. is mostly due scarcity experimental data for model validation. In this work, a material representative thermal studied unique micro-pyrolysis unit temperature range 300-800 °C. equipped with highly sensitive detectors allowing us identify quantify broad molecular weights up 240 g mol?1. More than 50 different resin have been quantified mass balance closure greater 80%. The major compound groups found permanent gases, phenols well larger molecules diphenols naphthalenes. addition, char yield obtained at fast heating employed our apparatus was ?5%-points lower compared traditional thermogravimetry.