Effect of the molecular structure of phenolic novolac precursor resins on the properties of phenolic fibers

• Phenolic resins with different weight-average molecular weights and ortho/para ratios have been prepared.
• The tensile strength of the phenolic fibers increases with reducing novolac O/P ratio.
• The tensile strength of the phenolic fibers increases with increasing novolac Mw.

A series of phenolic resins with different weight-average molecular weights (Mw) and ortho/para (O/P) ratios were prepared. The effect of the phenolic precursor resin structure on the structure and properties of the resulting phenolic fibers was investigated. The structures of the resins and fibers were characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, melt rheometry, dynamic mechanical analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results show that the O/P ratio, unsubstituted ortho and para carbon ratio (Ou/Pu), and Mw of the phenolic resins play an important role in determining the properties of the phenolic fibers. The tensile strength of the phenolic fibers increases with increasing novolac precursor Ou/Pu ratios, corresponding to low O/P ratios, at comparable resin Mw values. Also, the tensile strength of the phenolic fibers increases with increasing novolac Mw values at comparable O/P ratios. Phenolic fibers with high tensile strength and good flame resistance characteristics were generated from a phenolic precursor resin, possessing a high weight-average molecular weight and a low O/P value.