Chemical Characterization of Calcium Aluminate-Phenol Resin Composite

The chemical characteristics of a calcium aluminate-phenol resin composite with very high flexural strength are discussed. The flexural strength of the composite was found to be 120 to 220 MPa, which is greatly dependent on the fabrication method. The best system of these composites is made of calcium monoaluminate and the resole type of phenol resin. The evidence of possible cement-resin interaction has been found experimentally in roll milling, during heat curing, and in the final product. We discuss the evidence of interaction of phenol moiety and calcium aluminate based on the observations in processing, experimental data of differential scanning calorimetry, electron probe microanalysis, conduction calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Based on our findings, we propose a cross-linking mechanism assumed to occur in processing and during curing.