Home By Material Phenolic (Linen, Canvas, Paper)

Phenolic (Linen, Canvas, Paper)

Phenolic is usually used generically to describe various materials that use Phenolic resin as a binder to
impregnate sheets of linen, canvas or paper to make a thermoset plastic sheet or an industrial laminate.
Thermosets are typically made by applying heat and pressure to resin impregnated materials. Over time the
process causes a chemical reaction that transforms the layers into a solid sheet. Phenolic based materials
are used anywhere rigid materials are needed and are commonly specified for government or military
applications.
NEMA grades X, XX and XXX Paper Reinforced Phenolic - natural color is typically light tan to brown.
These grades are composed of a paper base impregnated with a phenolic resin binder. (Phenolics
are the oldest, best-known general-purpose thermoset resins. They are among the lowest in cost and
easiest to process. Phenolics are quite adequate for a fair percentage of electrical applications.
Generally speaking, they are not equivalent to epoxies in resistance to moisture, humidity,
dimensional stability, shrinkage and retention of electrical properties in extreme environments.) The
paper-reinforced phenolic has good electric strength properties with fair mechanical strength and is
outstanding for use as template material and/or backup material. A good rule of thumb in selecting a
paper grade is to remember the more X's the better the electrical properties, while the fewer X's
represent superior mechanical properties. Paper grades can be modified by adding plasticizers to
make them more conducive to part punching resulting in a P suffix added to the X designation, i.e.,
XP, XXP, XXXP.
Properties Industries
7600 Anagram Drive | Eden Prairie, MN 55344 | Phone: 952-934-2303 | Toll Free: 800-776-7769 | Fax: 952-934-2314 |
Site Map
Servicio en Espaol: 612-567-2303
Phenolic Cotton Grades of Industrial Laminates
NEMA grades C and CE canvas Cotton-Cloth Reinforced Phenolic - natural color is typically light tan
to brown. These grades are composed of a continuous cotton woven cloth impregnated with a
phenolic resin binder. (Phenolics are the oldest, best-known general-purpose thermoset resins. They
are among the lowest cost and easiest to process. Phenolics are quite adequate for a fair percentage
of electrical applications. Generally speaking, they are not equivalent to epoxies in resistance to
moisture, humidity, dimensional stability, shrinkage and retention of electrical properties in extreme
environments.) These grades contain a medium weave canvas and are known primarily for their
mechanical properties. These grades are not recommended for primary electrical insulation.
NEMA grades L and LE Linen Cotton-Cloth Reinforced Phenolic - natural color is typical light tan to
brown. These grades are composed of a continuous cotton woven cloth impregnated with a phenolic
resin binder. These grades contain a fine weave linen and, like the canvas phenolic, are known for
their mechanical properties. The finer weave allows for machining more intricate details than canvas
grade, such as gear teeth, etc. These grades are not recommended for primary electrical insulation
but grade LE exhibits superior moisture resistance to grades L, C, and CE and thus is an adequate
insulator for a fair number of applications.