Evaluation of a high temperature-resistant addition-curable phenolic resin as the matrix of composites

Allyl-functional novolac (AN) with allylation degree of 173% was synthesized，followed by copolymerizing with 4 , 4-bismaleimide biphenyl methane (BMI) at a mass ratio of 1∶1 to obtain BMI-modified allyl-functional novolac (BMAN173) resin. The processing property，cure schedule，and thermal stability of BMAN173 resin were studied. The results showed that BMAN173 resin possessed excellent processing properties，which are suitable for several kinds of molding processes，such as resin transfer molding (RTM) and compression molding. The initial decrease temperature of storage modulus and thermal decomposition temperature of cured BMAN173 resin were about 390℃ and 430℃，indicating that BMAN173 resin had good thermal properties. The mechanical and thermal properties of BMAN173 resin/ silica weave laminate composites were determined. BMAN173 resin/ silica weave composites exhibited excellent mechanical properties at high temperature，whose flexural strength and interlaminar shear strength retention at 350℃were about 57% and 62%，respectively. The result s of DMA showed that BMAN173 resin/silica weave possessed excellent heat-resistant property. Initial decrease temperature of storage modulus of the composites was about 410℃ and its glass transition was above 450℃. Therefore，BMAN173 resins would be a potentially ideal candidate for the matrix of high temperature-resistant composites.