Thermal properties and fire behaviour of materials produced from curing mixed epoxy and phenolic resins

Abstract Thermal stability and fire behaviour of materials obtained from curing mixed epoxy and phenolic resins have been studied, the decomposition processes being compared with those for the pure resins. Samples were cured by triethylenetetramine or p ‐toluenesulphonic acid by isothermal pressing at 90 ∘ C, and decompositions were carried out under nitrogen and air environment from 50 to 1000 ∘ C. Only for mixtures with higher proportion of epoxy resin, the decomposition process goes through a unique step as for the pure resin. Results from fire tests indicated that mixtures are classified as M3 and F1. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.