Phenolic CE
ASTM D709 · also Micarta Canvas, Garolite CE
Phenolic CE is a fine-weave cotton fabric reinforced phenolic laminate to ASTM D709 (Grade CE), press-cured into sheet, rod and tube, with coarse-weave C and bearing grades also stocked.
Values for the Phenolic Matrix condition
Phenolic CE grades and fills
Phenolic CE is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard. Phenolic Matrix is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
graphite / MoS2 lubricated canvas phenolic | Pick for water-lubricated or marginally lubricated bushings, roll-neck bearings and wear pads where a low-friction, self-lubricating surface is needed. | 65 | 1.3 | 90 Shore D | |
coarse cotton canvas phenolic (heavier weave) | Choose the coarse-weave C grade for thick, heavily loaded mechanical parts where maximum impact strength matters more than machined surface finish. | 70 | 1.8 | 89 Shore D | |
Phenolic MatrixDefault fine-weave cotton fabric / phenolic laminate (NEMA CE) | Standard commercial CE sheet/rod/tube: pick for gears, bushings, jigs and mechanical spacers needing good machined finish and impact strength. | 75 | 1.5 | 90 Shore D |
What is Phenolic CE?
Phenolic CE is a fine-weave cotton fabric reinforced phenolic laminate to ASTM D709 (Grade CE), press-cured into sheet, rod and tube, with coarse-weave C and bearing grades also stocked. It machines and taps cleanly (machinability rating 80, the highest of the industrial laminates) and is tough and quiet in mesh, which is why it is used for precision gears, bushings and insulating parts. Tensile strength is about 75 MPa with service to 125 °C. The cotton reinforcement absorbs moisture and swells, and electrical performance is below glass-epoxy grades such as G-10. Phenolic CE has a density of 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), lighter than 67% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 160°C (320 °F). Phenolic CE has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 79% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
What is Phenolic CE used for?
- Precision gears and pinions
- Bushings and plain bearings
- Electrical insulators and terminal boards
- Wear pads and guide strips
- Cam followers and timing gears
- Machine tool slides and soft jaws
- Punched washers and spacers
Advantages
- Low embodied carbon — 4.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 88% of composite grades
- Easy to machine — 80/100, better than 85% of composite grades
Limitations
- Low fracture toughness — 2.5 MPa·√m (2.28 ksi·√in), worse than 82% of composite grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 79% of composite grades
- Low stiffness — 7 GPa (1.02 Msi), worse than 77% of composite grades
Phenolic CE properties
Typical room-temperature values for Phenolic CE-Phenolic Matrix; bars are the position among composite grades.
Physical4
Phenolic CE has a density of 1.37 g/cm³ (0.0495 lb/in³), lighter than 67% of composite grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 160°C (320 °F).
Mechanical15
Phenolic CE has a tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi), weaker than 79% of composite grades. Elongation at break is 1.5% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
Thermal10
Phenolic CE is rated for continuous service to 125°C (257 °F). It conducts heat at 0.3 W/m·K (0.173 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 63% of composite grades. Thermal expansion is 25 µm/m·K (13.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
Phenolic CE is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 8 kV/mm (203.2 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10⁹ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 79% of composite grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of Phenolic CE takes about 80 MJ of energy and emits 4.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 84% of composite grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability4
Phenolic CE's machinability is very good (80/100, better than 85% of composite grades); weldability not recommended (0/100); formability not recommended (8/100).
Common Calculations4
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the composite family
Yield strength against density for every composite grade FabDigit runs. Phenolic CE is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with Phenolic CE
Is Phenolic CE easy to machine?
Machines and taps cleanly with carbide or PCD tools at high speed and low feed; dust is abrasive and irritant, so use extraction and expect tool wear rather than gumming.
Can Phenolic CE be welded?
Thermoset laminate cannot be welded or heat-formed; join by bolting, riveting or epoxy adhesive bonding after abrading the surface.
Can Phenolic CE be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied only as press-cured sheet, rod and tube; thin sheet (<1.6 mm) can be punched warm (~90–120 °C), thicker stock must be machined to shape.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to Phenolic CE. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better80 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | — / — |
| Minimum wall | — |
| Minimum internal radius | — |
| Drill depth limit | |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra — / — |
| Hardenable after machining | — |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Not Recommend8 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Not Recommend0 / 100 |
Phenolic CE chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| phenol-formaldehyde resinresole/novolac phenolic binder, fully cured | 35 – 48 | 42 |
| cotton fabric (fine weave)plain-weave cotton cloth, ~4 oz/yd² class for CE | ≥ 52 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on Phenolic CE?
Sand and seal cut edges (varnish/epoxy) to limit moisture pickup; can be painted after abrasion, but not platable and only moderately polishable due to fabric texture.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on composite parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Organic Coating
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to Phenolic CE in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D709
- Trade names
- Micarta CanvasGarolite CEGrade C
- Also called
- NEMA CE
How much does Phenolic CE cost?
Phenolic CE is a premium-cost composite ($$$), pricier than about 58% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Phenolic CE — frequently asked
What is Phenolic CE used for?
Phenolic CE is typically used for precision gears and pinions, bushings and plain bearings, electrical insulators and terminal boards, wear pads and guide strips, cam followers and timing gears and machine tool slides and soft jaws. In short: cotton phenolic gear stock.
What is the tensile strength of Phenolic CE?
Phenolic CE has a typical tensile strength of 75 MPa (10.9 ksi) — weaker than 79% of composite grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is Phenolic CE easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (80/100, better than 85% of composite grades). Machines and taps cleanly with carbide or PCD tools at high speed and low feed; dust is abrasive and irritant, so use extraction and expect tool wear rather than gumming.
Can Phenolic CE be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (0/100). Thermoset laminate cannot be welded or heat-formed; join by bolting, riveting or epoxy adhesive bonding after abrading the surface.
What surface finishes work on Phenolic CE?
Sand and seal cut edges (varnish/epoxy) to limit moisture pickup; can be painted after abrasion, but not platable and only moderately polishable due to fabric texture.
Can Phenolic CE be formed, bent or molded?
Supplied only as press-cured sheet, rod and tube; thin sheet (<1.6 mm) can be punched warm (~90–120 °C), thicker stock must be machined to shape.
What is the maximum service temperature of Phenolic CE?
Phenolic CE is rated for continuous use to about 125°C (257 °F), and briefly to 175°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does Phenolic CE cost?
Phenolic CE is a premium-cost composite ($$$), pricier than about 58% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in Phenolic CE?
Yes — Phenolic CE is available for CNC machining and sheet metal with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- ASTM D709 — Standard Specification for Laminated Thermosetting Materials — ASTM International (2017)
- NEMA LI 1 — Industrial Laminated Thermosetting Products — NEMA (1998)
- ASM Engineered Materials Handbook, Vol. 2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- Canvas phenolic (Grade C/CE) laminate datasheets — Norplex-Micarta / Franklin Fibre-Lamitex (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.