Phenolic Foam MOD
Additive grade
GB GB/T 20974
MOD = toughened / modified phenolic foam
Use where dusting and brittleness must be cut for thin-render wall systems; polyether/polyurethane or nano-filler toughening gives 4% elongation but limits service to 140 °C.
Values for the MOD condition
Other Phenolic Foam grades and fills
Phenolic Foam is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at Phenolic Foam.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Low density board, ~30–40 kg/m³ | Pick for roof and sandwich-core fill boards where lowest cost and lowest conductivity of 0.022 W/m·K govern; strength and resistance to dusting are the weakest of the range. | — | 0.09 | 1.5 | — |
PF-045Default Standard building board, ~40–50 kg/m³ | Use as the mainstream GB/T 20974 external wall and roof board density, giving the best balance of 0.023 W/m·K conductivity and 0.15 MPa tensile strength. | — | 0.15 | 2 | — |
Medium density, ~55–65 kg/m³ | Choose for facades, floors or composite air-duct panels needing higher compressive and wind-load capacity, accepting 0.025 W/m·K conductivity at 55–65 kg/m³. | — | 0.22 | 2 | — |
MODThis page Toughened / modified phenolic foam | Use where dusting and brittleness must be cut for thin-render wall systems; polyether/polyurethane or nano-filler toughening gives 4% elongation but limits service to 140 °C. | — | 0.25 | 4 | — |
Glass-fibre reinforced phenolic foam | Choose for air-duct panels and large board areas needing higher bending strength, dimensional stability and crack resistance; 3–8% chopped glass fibre lowers machinability to 75. | — | 0.28 | 1.5 | — |
High density, ~70–90 kg/m³ | Pick for pipe insulation shells, equipment lagging and load-bearing positions where 0.32 MPa strength is required and conductivity rising to 0.028 W/m·K is acceptable. | — | 0.32 | 2.5 | — |
What is Phenolic Foam MOD?
Phenolic Foam MOD is Phenolic Foam in the MOD grade — use where dusting and brittleness must be cut for thin-render wall systems; polyether/polyurethane or nano-filler toughening gives 4% elongation but limits service to 140 °C. Phenolic Foam MOD has a tensile strength of 0.25 MPa (0.0363 ksi), weaker than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.0016 Msi). Phenolic Foam MOD has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 88% of polymer grades. PF-045 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; MOD is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Easy to machine — 92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Lightweight — 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), better than 88% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 140°C (284 °F), better than 76% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Poor heat conductor — 0.02 W/m·K (0.0133 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of polymer grades
- Absorbs moisture — dry before molding — 2%, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 1/100, worse than 96% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 65/100, worse than 86% of polymer grades
- Low stiffness — 0.01 GPa (0.0016 Msi), worse than 80% of polymer grades
Phenolic Foam MOD properties
Typical room-temperature values for Phenolic Foam MOD; 17 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are Phenolic Foam reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical3
Phenolic Foam MOD has a density of 0.05 g/cm³ (0.0018 lb/in³), lighter than 88% of polymer grades.
Mechanical9
Phenolic Foam MOD has a tensile strength of 0.25 MPa (0.0363 ksi), weaker than 95% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 4% and the elastic modulus is 0.01 GPa (0.0016 Msi).
Thermal8
Phenolic Foam MOD is rated for continuous service to 140°C (284 °F). It conducts heat at 0.02 W/m·K (0.0133 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 100% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 25 µm/m·K (13.9 µin/in·°F).
Electrical2
Phenolic Foam MOD has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹⁰ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (65/100), worse than 86% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of Phenolic Foam MOD takes about 95 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 70% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability3
Phenolic Foam MOD's machinability is excellent (92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades); weldability not recommended (1/100); formability poor (18/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with Phenolic Foam MOD
Is Phenolic Foam easy to machine?
Cuts easily with band saw, hot wire or CNC foam tooling (machinability score 90), but the material is brittle and sheds powder, so dust extraction and PPE are required. It cannot be tapped and will not carry fastener clamping loads.
Can Phenolic Foam be welded?
A thermoset, so heat welding is not possible. Seal and lap board joints with fire-rated adhesive, polyurethane adhesive or aluminium foil tape.
Can Phenolic Foam be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by continuous board-line pouring and foaming with oven cure at roughly 50–80 °C, or by cavity casting for pipe shells and profiled parts. Once cured it cannot be reformed.
What surface finishes work on Phenolic Foam?
Surfaces must be treated with a dedicated interface primer plus crack-resistant mortar and mesh, or faced with aluminium foil or glass cloth. Add a moisture barrier wherever the foam contacts carbon steel, copper or aluminium to avoid corrosion from residual acid.
Phenolic Foam 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 |
|---|---|---|
| blowing agent (pentane / HFO-1233zd / HFphysical blowing agent, sets initial thermal conductivity | 3 – 8 | 5 |
| acid curing catalyst (p-toluenesulfonic residual acidity is a source of metal corrosion | 5 – 12 | 8 |
| surfactant (silicone / castor-oil ethoxycontrols cell size and closed-cell content | 1 – 4 | 2 |
| toughener / plasticizerin MOD grades, reduces brittleness and dusting | 0 – 8 | 2 |
| glass fiberGF-reinforced grades | 0 – 8 | 0 |
| aluminium hydroxide / mineral fillerimproves fire performance and smoke suppression | 0 – 10 | 0 |
| phenol-formaldehyde resole resinmatrix resin, phenol/formaldehyde molar ratio about 1:1.5–1:2.2 | ≥ 70 (balance) | — |
Phenolic Foam MOD — frequently asked
What is Phenolic Foam MOD used for?
Phenolic Foam MOD is typically used for building wall/roof insulation, HVAC duct and pipe insulation, fire-rated sandwich panel cores and cold-chain/cryogenic insulation. In short: lowest-conductivity rigid foam board; low smoke and toxicity; brittle, non-load-bearing.
What is the tensile strength of Phenolic Foam MOD?
Phenolic Foam MOD has a typical tensile strength of 0.25 MPa (0.0363 ksi) — weaker than 95% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is Phenolic Foam MOD easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated excellent (92/100, better than 99% of polymer grades). Cuts easily with band saw, hot wire or CNC foam tooling (machinability score 90), but the material is brittle and sheds powder, so dust extraction and PPE are required. It cannot be tapped and will not carry fastener clamping loads.
Can Phenolic Foam MOD be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated not recommended (1/100). A thermoset, so heat welding is not possible. Seal and lap board joints with fire-rated adhesive, polyurethane adhesive or aluminium foil tape.
What surface finishes work on Phenolic Foam MOD?
Surfaces must be treated with a dedicated interface primer plus crack-resistant mortar and mesh, or faced with aluminium foil or glass cloth. Add a moisture barrier wherever the foam contacts carbon steel, copper or aluminium to avoid corrosion from residual acid.
Can Phenolic Foam MOD be formed, bent or molded?
Produced by continuous board-line pouring and foaming with oven cure at roughly 50–80 °C, or by cavity casting for pipe shells and profiled parts. Once cured it cannot be reformed.
What is the maximum service temperature of Phenolic Foam MOD?
Phenolic Foam MOD is rated for continuous use to about 140°C (284 °F), and briefly to 200°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
Sources
- ASTM C1126 Standard Specification for Faced or Unfaced Rigid Cellular Phenolic Thermal Insulation — ASTM (2018)
- EN 13166 Thermal insulation products for buildings — Factory made phenolic foam (PF) products — CEN (2012)
- Phenolic insulation board technical data (Kooltherm-type rigid PF board) — Kingspan / (2023)
- Handbook of Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology — phenolic foams chapter — Hanser (2004)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.