Phenolic resin-commercial graphite disk preparation: Effect of the resin amount and the thermal treatment on the structural, morphological and mechanical properties

Abstract In this work, macroporous discs were prepared using synthesized phenolic resin (PR) and commercial graphite mixtures (15-40 weight percent). The structure of the PR resin was confirmed by Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Gas Chromatography Coupled to Mass Spectrometry while the curing temperature was determined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. Also, the surface homogeneity and the structural analysis of the prepared disks were examined by means of scanning electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction analysis, respectively. According to the micrographs it was observed that as the PR amount increased disks’ porosity decreased giving rise to homogeneous and smooth surfaces which was explained in terms of the X-ray diffraction analysis that proved that graphite average crystal size (ACS) values decreased progressively with PR amount. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the mechanical resistance could be tuned with the PR amount and the thermal treatment since as both increased the disks’ hardness augmented.