A study of the thermally induced carbonization of phenolformaldehyde by combined ion beam and surface specific analyses

Abstract Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), Raman microprobe spectroscopy and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) have been used to study thermally induced structural changes in phenolformaldehyde resin. Resin samples were heat treated in an inert gas environment at temperatures ranging from 200 to 2500°C. Results obtained from RBS spectra showed that the content of oxygen and other gaseous products of carbonization is reduced at higher heat treatment temperatures (HTT), which is in agreement with ESCA results. Raman microprobe spectroscopy clearly indicates that a key step in the carbonization process occurs between 500 and 575°C. The concentration ratios of various constituents to carbon were used as a complementary tool to the results obtained by ESCA to clarify the processes of thermally induced purification.