Flame retardancy and heat resistance of phenol-biphenylene-type epoxy resin compound modified with benzoguanamine

The flame retardancy and heat resistance of a phenol‐biphenylene‐type epoxy resin compound, which forms a self‐extinguishing network structure, were increased by the inclusion of a benzoguanamine‐modified phenol biphenylene resin. The benzoguanamine‐modified phenol biphenylene resin contains a benzoguanamine unit to release non‐flammable nitrogen substances during ignition and to increase the resin's reactivity toward epoxy resins, and biphenylene units to keep the resin's thermal degradation and water resistance. The addition of the benzoguanamine‐modified phenol biphenylene resin in the epoxy resin compound improved the epoxy resin compound's flame retardancy and heat resistance, and also increased its glass transition temperature while maintaining its water resistance and mechanical properties. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.