Non-Chemical Safe to incinerate phenolic boards?

[924T]

I found a 2008 post from Rag and Bone on the forum where Phenolic material had been heated up in a skillet, and
caused lots of smoke.

I'm wondering, as maybe other beginners might be, too, who have a pile of floppy drive boards with
the IDE connectors with Gold pins in them---------------is it safe to incinerate floppy drive phenolic boards
with flame (specifically, in a cyclonic incinerator)?

Not being green boards, I'm guessing that they don't have the fire retardants that cause such a potentially
lethal smoke when burnt.

But, I don't know if the Phenol component has it's own unique hazards.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[goldsilverpro]

I've been around this since '66 and I'm almost positive the old phenolic boards contained arsenic and/or antimony as a flame retardant. This was widely discussed back then.

They also contain about 30% phenol oil, if I remember right. Back then, there was a lot of discussion about using pyrolysis/distillation to extract it, since it was then worth about $40/gallon. I know of no one that actually did it. Lots of big talk and dreams, though.

I certainly wouldn't breathe the smoke.

 

[924T]

gsp,

Thanks for the fast reply!

I was hoping they would burn clean, but not having seen any mention, so far, of anybody
on the forum incinerating them, I had the feeling that there might be more to them
than meets the eye.

I'm not certain if I should post this next question in the chemical processes section, or if it's
o.k. here:

Are you aware of any adverse reaction that would occur if I put phenolic boards in either HCl
or Sodium Nitrate to depopulate some small boards?

I'll gladly move the question if it's a violation of protocol.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[BJL1984]

if you want to learn of some of the hazards of phenol look up the nurd rage channel on youtube and his Luminol (Luminous paint) expariment