Nano-silica modified phenolic resin film: manufacturing and properties

Abstract

Nano-silica modified phenolic resin film is prepared using different mass fractions of nano-silica by liquid composites molding (LCM). The effects of nano-silica on the rheology and curing of phenolic resin are studied by rheometer and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The results show that the viscosity of nano-silica modified phenolic resin decreases with the increase of temperature, and the viscosity is lowest between 70°C and 90°C. The appropriate resin film infusion (RFI) process is investigated, and the stepped curing process system is established. In addition, the microstructures of modified phenolic film and composites are tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Nano-silica can be uniformly dispersed in phenolic resin when the amount of nano-silica added is ≤ 4%. And the mechanical properties of nano-silica modified phenolic composites are tested by universal material testing machine. The optimum nano-silica mass loading for the improvement of mechanical properties is found. This work provides an effective way to prepare the modified phenolic resin film suitable for resin film infusion (RFI) processes, and it maybe become a backbone of thermal protection material in aerospace.

Keywords

• nano-silica
• phenolic resin
• resin film infusion