Abstract: In order to study the effect of K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers and chopped glass fibers to the properties of phenolic foam (PF), samples of phenolic foam modified with K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers, chopped glass fibers and chopped glass fibers/4% K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers were prepared. Macrostructure, mechanical property and thermal insulating property of different phenolic foam samples were examined. The results show that with the addition of K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers the cell structure was more spherical and regular; the compressive strength, bending strength and thermal insulating property were improved compared with the neat phenolic foam. The compressive strength and bending strength of phenolic foam modified with different content of chopped glass fibers were obviously higher than neat phenolic foam, as the content of chopped glass fibers raised the compressive strength and bending strength of phenolic foam increased. The phenolic foam containing 8wt% chopped glass fibers has a higher compressive strength and bending strength, while compressive strength increased by 126% and bending strength increased by 208% compared with the neat phenolic foam; the thermal insulating property was rarely decreased. It was also found that the compressive strength, bending strength and thermal insulating property of the phenolic foam modified with chopped glass fibers/4% K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers were higher than the phenolic foam modified with chopped glass fibers.

Key words: phenolic foam, chopped glass fibers, K₂Ti₆O₁₃ whiskers