Study on a parameter to express glass‐forming relationship of phenolic–novolac resin

Chemoviscosity and glass‐forming ability of commercial phenolic–novolac resin are investigated at hexamethylenetramine (HMTA) curing agent content weight from 6 to 9%. We propose a parameter, M_k, which is based on chemoviscosity change rate and T_g0 of uncured liquid resin, to predict glass‐forming ability of the fully cured phenolic–novolac resin. It is found that M_k has a negative linear relationship with T_g∞, and the lower M_k represents the better glass‐forming ability of initial phenolic–novolac uncured liquid resin while the higher T_g∞ represents the better glass‐forming ability of fully cured resin. Further more, M_k establishes a kinetic glass‐forming relationship between liquid uncured and fully cured phenolic–novolac resin in terms of comparing with T_g∞. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers