March 18, 2026
Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and Representative Director: Shinichi Kajiya) has introduced a new series of specialty modified phenolic resin products designed to meet the diversified needs for composite material development. This series features not only the excellent heat resistance and durability characteristics of phenolic resins but also superior adhesion to a wide variety of materials, including metals, organic substances, and inorganic substances, achieved through our proprietary technology. These products are designed to deliver exceptional performance and reliability across multiple industries and applications.
Background of Development
In recent years, the demand for lightweight, high-strength, and heat-resistant materials has significantly increased across various fields, including electronic materials, automotive components, and the aerospace sector. These performance requirements have become so high-level that they are often challenging to achieve with single materials alone, leading a rapid rise in the need for composite materials.
To better meet the diverse needs of our customers, we have now consolidated these high-adhesion phenolic resin products into a new series and expanded the product lineup. Below, we introduce some representative products from this series.
Metal High-Adhesion Phenolic Resin: SUMILITERESIN™ PR-56464
SUMILITERESIN™ PR-56464, which is specifically designed for metal adhesion, is a solid novolak-type phenolic resin. When used as a binder, its triazine structure forms coordination bonds with metal surfaces, providing excellent adhesion strength to metal substrates. When incorporated into thermosetting materials used in electronic components, this product contributes to the enhancement of reliability.
In an evaluation of adhesion to copper substrates using a die shear strength test with
phenolic resin molding compounds, replacing general phenolic resin with metal high-adhesion
PR-56464 resulted in a significant improvement in adhesion strength.
Furthermore, a comparison of fracture modes after testing revealed cohesive failure in
materials containing PR-56464, further confirming the enhancement of adhesive strength.
Curing Conditions: Transfer molding Mold temp 175°C / Injection pressure 10 MPa / Curing time 120 s
Carbon High-Adhesion Phenolic Resin:
SUMILITERESIN™ PR-56091 (Solvent-Based) / AQNOA™ PR-56542 (Water-Based)
Carbon materials are widely used in various advanced fields due to their exceptional properties such as lightweight, high strength, and excellent thermal conductivity. However, their chemically stable structure and the absence of functional groups on the surface present challenges in achieving adhesion with other materials.
Our carbon high-adhesion phenolic resins, SUMILITERESIN™ PR-56091 and AQNOA™
PR-56542, are
specifically designed to enhance miscibility with carbon materials through cation-π
interactions.
When used as binders for carbon-based composite materials, these resins enhance affinity
with carbon, thereby improving adhesion and durability. Additionally, phenolic resins
exhibit exceptionally high carbon yield among synthetic resins, enabling them to function
effectively as carbon binders when subjected to carbonization.
Among these products, AQNOA™ PR-56542 is a water-soluble phenolic resin with exceptional environmental performance. This proprietary product reduces environmentally harmful substances, such as phenol and formaldehyde, to less than 0.1%."
*For more information, please visit our website.
Evaluation Conditions:
Stir 50 g of liquid phenolic resin with 1 g of chopped carbon fiber in a 100-cc beaker.
Observe dispersion visually after 1 day.
Other Lineup
In addition, we offer a wide range of highly adhesive phenolic resins tailored to various materials, including inorganic fillers, aramid fibers, steel plates, and water-based paints. Detailed data for each product number is available on our website.
Environmental Impact Reduction and Sustainability
The High-Adhesion Modified Phenolic Resin Series contributes to sustainability by improving adhesion, reducing the required amount of adhesives and pre-treatment processes, and enhancing the durability of composite material products. These advancements extend product lifespan, thereby reducing waste and supporting the realization of a sustainable society.
Future Plans
Through the sales of high-adhesion modified phenolic resins, we aim to accurately address the diverse material design needs of our customers. By releasing our core strength in resin development, we will actively pursue the development of high-performance polymer products. Our focus is on key industries such as semiconductors, mobility, and energy, with the goal of achieving annual global sales revenue of 2 billion yen by fiscal year 2030.
Related Information
[Contact information]
Polymers Sales Department, Material Solutions Sales Division, Sumitomo Bakelite Co.,
Ltd.
TEL:＋81-3-5462-4115