Phenolic Paper Sheet vs Phenolic Cotton Sheet

Phenolic Paper Sheet and Phenolic Cotton Sheet (phenolic cotton fabric sheet) are thermosetting materials based on phenolic resin, but with different reinforcement filler—paper and cotton fabric, which directly determines their mechanical, electrical insulating properties and application regions. They are both called Bakelite Sheet.

Major Performance Comparison:

Mechanical Properties

Phenolic Paper Sheet is high hardness and wear-resistant surface, making it suitable for conventional drilling, cutting, and stamping. How it is brittle and easy to crack or chip under stress, severe vibration, or impact; So it is not recommended for manufacturing load-bearing structural components.

Phenolic Cotton Sheet provides exceptional toughness, with outstanding impact resistance, bending resistance, and torsional strength. It dosen’t crack or collapse at edges, withstands continuous mechanical vibrations and dynamic loads, and is suitable for precision machining and ideal for manufacturing load-bearing components like bushings, shims, and transmission parts.

Insulation and Electrical Properties

Both sheet has excellent insulation performance and match low-voltage electrical insulation requirements under normal dry conditions.

Phenolic Paper Sheet is widely used in conventional insulating components such as standard low-voltage electrical devices, switch bases, and insulating partitions.

Phenolic Cotton Sheet doesn’t perform well in humid environments; so it is generally not recommended for applications of high humidity or strict insulation conditions.

Heat Resistance and Flame Retardancy Properties

Both materials has the conventional heat resistance of approximately 120°C and short-term tolerance to up to 150°C. Both are self-extinguishing and flame retardant.

Unmodified grades reach UL94 V-1, while modified flame-resistant versions achieve UL94 V-0.

The difference is that Phenolic Paper Sheet is prone to accelerated aging and brittleness under long time exposure to high temperatures and Phenolic Cotton Sheet is flexible and will not crack at high temperatures.

Wear and Friction Properties

Phenolic Paper Sheet features high surface hardness and excellent wear resistance in the dry state, making it ideal for use as pads, work surfaces, or simple wear-resistant components.

Phenolic Cotton Sheet features excellent adhesion, wear resistance and shock absorption; It is widely used in the manufacturing of gears, bearings, and friction pads.

Processing Characteristics

Phenolic Paper Sheet is easy to machine and drill, however, its cutting edges generates chips and chipping, resulting in mediocre quality when precision machining.

Phenolic Cotton Sheet exhibits superior precision and appearance, making it ideal for manufacturing precision components.

Applicable fields

Phenolic Paper Sheets are mainly applied in low-voltage electrical insulation and general structural parts. They are widely used for manufacturing bases of switches and sockets, fixtures, grinding table, insulating spacers and coil supports. They are also made into daily articles.

In contrast, Phenolic Cotton Sheets focus on high-wear mechanical parts and heavy-duty structural parts. They are ideal for manufacturing gears, bearings, shaft sleeves, insulating supports, winding brackets, gaskets, washers, sealing rings, bus-bar supports and battery module insulation of electric vehicles.

RDS Composite can produce can produce Phenolic Paper Sheet such as PFCP201, PFCP202, PFCP203, PFCP207, X, XX, XPC and Phenolic Cotton Sheet such as PFCC201, PFCC202, PFCC203, PFCC204, C, CE, L, LE and also can process Phenolic Paper and Phenolic Cotton parts according to your specifications. We have solid experience in custom precision parts production, satisfying strict dimensional tolerance and performance requirements.We conduct full inspections on dimensions, performance and appearance for all finished products to ensure compliance with your requirements.