Differences Between Epoxy Resin VS Phenolic Resin | Detailed Explanation

Epoxy resin vs phenolic resin, both of them are important synthetic resin materials. They are highly favored by people based on their amazing features and applications. People use epoxy resin to make strong mechanical components and building materials. Phenolic resins are mainly applied in materials with high requirements for temperature resistance. They usually exist in industrial production, and we can also find their presence in our daily lives. They have brought many benefits to our lives.

Usage and precautions of epoxy resin vs phenolic resin

When using epoxy resin, it is necessary to carefully read the instructions and mix the epoxy resin and curing agent according to the correct ratio. Besides, the two materials should be thoroughly stirred before application.

If you want to get a good effect of the epoxy resin, you’d better use it at a temperature between -50°C and 150°C. It will solidify in about 6 hours at room temperature. If the temperature is 40 degrees, it will solidify in about 3 hours.

Therefore, if epoxy resin is used outdoors, the solidifying time will also be extended if the temperature drops at night. Besides, dew caused by temperature differences can harm the quality of the material surface.

There are two methods for using phenolic resin: phenolic resin film and powdered phenolic resin adhesive. For the usage of phenolic resin adhesive film, you should immerse or coat the phenolic resin on paper. Then dry it to form an adhesive film. You can also make a wet adhesive film without drying. The dry adhesive film is very convenient to use.

For the usage of powdered phenolic resin adhesive, you can crush it first and add it to other materials, with a dosage ranging from 5% to 20%. However the non-notched impact strength will decrease significantly, while the notched impact strength will increase instead. The tensile performance decreases, especially with coarse fillers. The thermal deformation temperature, dielectric strength, and water absorption are not affected. In processing, due to the high shear viscosity generated by adding fillers, higher mold pressure is required.

Are they harmful to the human body?

Epoxy resin vs phenolic resin, are they harmful to the human body? Below are the detailed explanations.

Epoxy resin is an environmentally friendly material and does not cause any harm to human health. However, solvents and other toxic substances may be added during the production process, they may cause the following hazards to the human body.

-Contact dermatitis

During the process of preparing epoxy resin with added solvents and toxic substances, there may be an inflammatory response to the skin area in direct contact. It will result in symptoms such as erythema and swelling. Once it occurs, you’d better not scratch or wash with hot water. Besides, you should avoid strong sunlight or hot wind stimulation.

-Pruritus

 After epoxy resin is used as a solvent-based coating, it contains a large amount of volatile organic compounds, which may lead to pruritus after contact and cause partial or systemic skin itching. You should avoid further contact to avoid worsening symptoms. Besides, you should take good protective measures at work and avoid scratching and hot water washing.

The phenolic resin itself is not toxic. However, its raw materials are phenols, formaldehyde, and some toxic chemicals. If the temperature is high during the film pressing process, and if the operation is not standard or the seal is loose, there will be formaldehyde vapor overflowing. Exposure to these toxic gases can cause scaling and allergic dermatitis, especially in summer.

Therefore, during the production of epoxy resin vs phenolic resin, it is necessary to strengthen labor protection and provide a safe working environment. Besides, you should always wear gloves and timely clean your hands and face. If you accidentally harm your body's organs such as the eyes and throat, you should go to the hospital for medical treatment instantly.

Storage and precautions

Their storage conditions are the same. They should be stored in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated environment. Besides, it’s better to avoid direct sunlight. The storage temperature should be between 5~25℃. Because high or low temperatures can affect its quality, it is important to maintain a stable temperature. High temperature can cause it to deteriorate and lose its proper performance, while low temperature can cause it to become brittle or change unevenly. The storage humidity should be between 50% and 60%. What’s more, it’s better to seal them to prevent moisture from entering the container and affecting the quality of the product.

Conclusion

This article mainly talks about the differences between epoxy resin vs phenolic resin. They have different applications, usage, and precautions. Besides, it’s dangerous during the production of these two materials, and you should be aware of the measures in advance.