Effect of monophenyl borate on properties of high-ortho phenolic fibers

A series of monophenyl borate (MPB) modified high-ortho phenolic copolymer fibers (BOPFs) were prepared by melt-spinning of the high-ortho phenol-formaldehyde resins with different content of MPB, and cured in a formaldehyde solution. The solution curing fibers were heated up to 240 °C at elevated temperatures in N₂. The effect of MPB on the structure and properties of the BOPFs was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results show that a B-O linkage inserts into the high-ortho phenolic copolymer molecular chain with the addition of MPB, and increases the crosslinkage and thermal stability. The peak of O/P (ortho/para) value of fiber (1.94) and elongation (5.6 %) were obtained when BOPFs-4 was heat-cured at 240 °C for 2 h.