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Phenlic resin breakdown

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Jim85

Aerospace
Aug 21, 2010
43
Hi,

Does anyone know of a chemical that will breakdown cured phenolic resin?
 
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Depends on several factors. Phenolics can be sensitive to oxidizing acids (e.g. sulfuric) or to alkalis (e.g sodium hydroxide). A great way to remove phenolic is to use plasma etching, but that destroys all organic materials, so it is most useful in removing phenolic coatings from metallic substrates.
 
Hi CoryPad,

Thanks for your response. I am looking at FRP with a phenolic matrix in prepress form. Just wanted to know for experiemental purposes if there was a way to breakdown the cured resin leaving the reinforcement material behind and intack.
 
Glass fibers? Plasma etching, or ashing, would remove phenolic resin and leave the fibers intact.
 
Resin content of glass fiber composite is often measured using a muffle furnace to burn-off the resin.
 
Thanks guys. Both interesting. In terms of the muffle furnace, what sort of temperatures would the resin burn off at and what would then need to be done to the remaining glass fibre to reuse it?

Would the plasma etching system create the same outcome as the above?

If some, in terms of energy consumption, what would be more efficient and environmentally friendly?
 
You should be able to burn most organic materials at a temperature of 500 degrees C.

A plasma system would leave the fibers intact with no organic material on them.

A plasma system should be lower in energy, require less time, and be more environmentally friendly.

 
Am I right in thinking that this type of process will work with all thermoset composite materials?
 
These methods are suitable for removing any organic resin, thermoplastic or thermoset.
 
Hi CoryPad,

I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction? I am looking for some information on plasma etching in regards to phenolic materials and I can't seem to find anything. Is this process similar to the basic plasma etching tanks that are common? Also, do you know anything about the chemistry involved in the process and what the optimum RF to complete this process would be?

I am very interested in this type of technology so any kind of help would be brilliant.
 
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