Mechanical properties, morphology, and flame retardance of glass fiber-reinforced polyamide-toughened novolac-type phenolic resin

Abstract

The mechanical properties (tensile, flexural modulus, and impact strength) and the flame retardance of glass fiber-reinforced novolac-type phenolic resin modified with polyamide (PA-6, PA-66) were investigated. Results show that polyamide improves the mechanical properties of composites, especially for the impact strength up to 1.5-fold which shows a maximum value at 7 wt % of polyamide content. The interface between the matrix and glass fiber is increased due to the hydrogen-bonding function present in the polyamide chain. This modified phenolic composite shows excellent flame retardance, that is, UL-94, V-0, and LOI is higher than 55.