A thermosetting phenolic film and its application in the resin film infusion

This article develops an alternative phenolic resin (PF) film, designated PFA (modified PF), made by modifying PF with thermoplastic. Ithas a good film-formability and shelf life of 60 days at ambient temperature. The film can keep a viscosity of less than 3000 mPa·s at 110°C for 68 min, which makes the resin easily impregnate the fiber preform thoroughly in resin film infusion (RFI) process. The tensile strength and modulus, the interlaminar shear strength, the flexible strength, and modulus of PFA laminate prepared by RFI are superior to those of PF laminate prepared by prepreg.