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Phenolics

Phenolic Resins

Phenolic resins are ideal for high temperature applications where parts must meet fire safety, smoke emission, combustion and toxicity requirements. They have excellent flame retardence, heat and chemical resistance, and electrical non-conductivity characteristics.  Phenolics offer low density, good thermal insulation, outstanding durability and ease of formability to complex contours.

Phenolic resins are used in a wide range of applications including electronics, ballistics, mine ventilation, offshore water pipe systems, aerospace, rail and mass transit.

Best Processes

Open Molding (Hand Lay-up/Spray-up), SMC/BMC, Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), Filament Winding. The best process for your product is a function of your tooling budget, part specification (such as dimensional tolerance and physical properties) and production volume.

Reinforcements

Typically glass and or mineral fillers like Wollastinite. 

Special Design Considerations

This material can be tooled using various options and should be geared to the part volume and tooling budget.  Our dedicated team of design engineers can help you with that evaluation. MFG’s Technical Design Guide for FRP Composite Products and Parts provides in-depth information for product designers. You can download it on the bottom of this page.

Technical Details

Surfaces are dull and not glossy. While phenolics can be pigmented, the resin’s natural brown color limits hues to the brown/black range. For that reason, parts may require post mold finishing — surface prep and priming/painting.

The heat or flame retardant nature of the part generally dictates the complete formulation. It is possible to add self-extinguishing fillers as well as other property enhancing additives. 

Cost Considerations

Cost is on par with polyester resins in SMC.

Videos

  • Facts About Styrene 2013

    Facts About Styrene 2013

    Educational video on the effects of styrene. This video is part of ACMA's Risk Communication Program that provides information tools about chemical health risks.

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