Phenolic curing

[noni]

How do you know when a phenolic is cured? Part under pressure for 10 min at 385F, cooled to 260F then ejected. When put in oven at 175F overnight, got a potato chip... Why wasn't this cured???

 

[dhuffy]

noni,

I know only a little about thermosets. I do know one company that adds a colorant into their material so when it is molded it comes our green or some other color. When it is fully cured, it turns black. I do not know the chemistry behind it but perhaps you can look into it with your material supplier.

Good luck.

Dave

 

[nbucska]

About 30 yrs ago I used phenolic resin ( "Bakelit A&quot
with hexamethylenetetramine ( and no dye ). It changed the color from light brown to yellow, when done.
<nbucska@pcperipherals.com>

 

[insideman]

Phenolics are notoriously brittle when used without wood flour, cotton linters or other reinforcement. Maybe that is your problem?