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Phenolic laminate
ISO O (other (outside the six ISO groups))Phenolic resin laminate (thermosetting resin. Paper or cotton cloth impregnated with phenolic resin and cured under heat and pressure. Commonly called "bakelite sheet"). Standard: JIS K 6912 (thermosetting resin laminated sheets. The 2006 edition's errata sheet was checked), IEC 60893-3-4, ASTM D709.
🌐JIS and international equivalents
“Close” means composition or properties are not exactly the same. Before substituting, check the values in each standard.
| System | Designation | Number | Relation | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JIS K 6912 (grade symbols for thermosetting resin laminated sheets) | Phenolic laminate | JIS K 6912 (thermosetting resin laminated sheets. The 2006 edition's errata sheet was checked), IEC 60893-3-4, ASTM D709 | — | |
| NEMA | XXpaper base | — | Not confirmed | |
| NEMA | LEcloth base, fine cloth | — | Not confirmed |
Differences between the equivalents (from the sources)
- NEMA XX: The title of Risho Kogyo's former product page is "PS-1121E (PL-PEM/XX)". The current page has no NEMA designation. The former product page has been deleted (confirmed 2026-10-06) and the current page carries no NEMA designation, so this cannot be confirmed from public documents
- NEMA LE: The title of Risho Kogyo's former product page is "PS-2161E (PL-FLE/LE)". The coarse-thread cloth grade PS-2266 is "PL-FCM/C". The former product page has been deleted (confirmed 2026-10-06) and the current page carries no NEMA designation, so this cannot be confirmed from public documents
📄Related standards (ISO, ASTM, JIS)
Standards that define the material or stock shapes. Standard texts are paid, so only titles and scopes checked on public pages are shown.
| Spec | Scope | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| JIS K 6912 | Grades and quality of phenolic and epoxy resin laminates with paper, cloth or glass cloth bases. The errata sheet corrects the deletion of PL-AH and PL-AFH | One source / reference[1] |
| IEC 60893-3-4:2003+AMD1:2012 | Insulating materials - Industrial rigid laminated sheets based on thermosetting resins for electrical purposes - Part 3-4: Specifications for individual materials - Requirements for rigid laminated sheets based on phenolic resinsIndividual standard for electrical phenolic resin laminates | Agrees in 2+ sources[5] |
| ASTM D709 | Standard Specification for Laminated Thermosetting MaterialsStandard for sheet, tube and rod laminated from paper, cotton cloth, glass cloth, etc. with thermosetting resin (NEMA-type grades) | Agrees in 2+ sources[6][9] |
All ASTM standards on Kezuriba: ASTM standards quick reference.
📋Typical properties
Plastic properties vary with maker, grade and processing. These are makers’ published typical values, not guaranteed values. For design, check the data sheet of the grade you use.
| Property | Value | Test method | Source of value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flexural strength (paper base, perpendicular to laminations) | 105–195 MPa | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E, PL-PEM). Parallel to laminations is 140–190 One source / reference[2] |
| Flexural strength (paper base) | 200 MPa | Conditioning A (as received), 15 mm thick specimen | Typical value (Sumitomo Bakelite PL-1102, equivalent to PL-PEM) One source / reference[4] |
| Flexural strength (cloth base, fine cloth, perpendicular to laminations) | 125–160 MPa | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-2161E, PL-FLE). Parallel to laminations is 95–130 One source / reference[3] |
| Tensile strength (paper base) | 100–150 MPa | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E, PL-PEM) One source / reference[2] |
| Tensile strength (cloth base, fine cloth) | 65–110 MPa | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-2161E, PL-FLE) One source / reference[3] |
| Compressive strength (perpendicular to laminations) | Paper 245–300 / cloth 245–300 MPa | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E/PS-2161E) One source / reference[2][3] |
| Flexural modulus | — | Not stated by either Risho or Sumitomo Bakelite Not confirmed | |
| Rockwell hardness (paper base) | M105–115 M scale | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E, PL-PEM) One source / reference[2] |
| Rockwell hardness (cloth base, fine cloth) | M90–100 M scale | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-2161E, PL-FLE) One source / reference[3] |
| Deflection temperature under load (1.8 MPa) | — | Not found in primary sources Not confirmed | |
| Continuous use temperature (guideline) | — | Not found in primary sources. The only item in Risho's document is appearance after heating (no abnormality after 130°C × 2 h for paper and 140°C × 2 h for cloth), which is not a continuous use temperature Not confirmed[2][3] | |
| Coefficient of linear thermal expansion | — | Not found in primary sources Not confirmed | |
| Water absorption (paper base) | 0.6–0.8 % | JIS K 6911 (3.0 mm thick) | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E, PL-PEM) One source / reference[2] |
| Water absorption (paper base) | 0.34 % | Conditioning E-24/50 + D-24/23, 15 mm thick specimen | Typical value (Sumitomo Bakelite PL-1102, equivalent to PL-PEM). The specimen is thicker, so it cannot be compared with Risho's 3 mm value One source / reference[4] |
| Water absorption (cloth base, fine cloth) | 0.5–0.9 % | JIS K 6911 (10 mm thick) | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-2161E, PL-FLE) One source / reference[3] |
| Withstand voltage through laminations (paper base) | 13 min MV/m | JIS K 6911 (Sumitomo's conditioning is C-90/20/65) | Guaranteed value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E has a standard performance value of 15 and a guaranteed value of 13 min; Sumitomo Bakelite PL-1102 is ≥13) Agrees in 2+ sources[2][4] |
| Breakdown voltage through laminations (paper base) | 30–45 MV/m | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E) One source / reference[2] |
| Withstand voltage through laminations (cloth base, fine cloth) | 11 MV/m | JIS K 6911 (in oil, 1 minute) | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-2161E). Breakdown voltage through laminations (in oil) is 13–17 MV/m One source / reference[3] |
| Izod impact strength | Paper 0.29–0.39 / cloth 0.58–0.79 J/cm | JIS K 6911 | Standard performance value (Risho Kogyo PS-1121E/PS-2161E). Sumitomo PL-1102 is 0.27 One source / reference[2][3][4] |
⚖Density
1.39 g/cm³
One source / reference[4][2][3]
Paper base: Sumitomo Bakelite PL-1102 is 1.39 and Risho Kogyo PS-1121E is 1.34–1.40. Cloth base: Risho Kogyo PS-2161E is 1.35–1.40. The single value is the typical value for Sumitomo's paper base
Calculate weight in Phenolic laminate →🏷Common trade names (makers)
Plastics are often called by a maker’s product name. Names are trademarks of their owners.
- PS-1121E (paper base, PL-PEM), PS-2161E (cloth base, PL-FLE), PS-2266 (coarse-thread cloth) (Risho Kogyo)Risho Kogyo part numbers[10][2][3]
- Sumilite PL (PL-1102, etc.) (Sumitomo Bakelite)The catalog describes PL-1102 as a "laminated sheet for mechanical and electrical equipment (for machining)", equivalent to JIS designation PL-PEM. "Bakelite" is the origin of the company name (per the company FAQ), but its status as a registered trademark was not confirmed in primary sources[4][11][12]
- Paper- and cotton-cloth-base laminates (NEMA grades) (Norplex-Micarta)US laminate manufacturer. Only the machining guide is used[8]
🔧Machinability notes (as stated in the sources)
- Norplex-Micarta (laminate machining guide): Paper base is the easiest of the laminates to machine, and can be cut with ordinary woodworking and metalworking machines more easily than metal. HSS tools are usually sufficient, but carbide-tipped tools are more economical when quantity, speed or finish matter. Keep tools very sharp. Machine paper base dry; no cutting oil is needed. Liquid coolant is hard to remove from the part, so cooling with compressed air or suction is better. Keep the workpiece below 150°C (above 150°C causes distortion and scorching of the machined surface). Remove chips by suction[8]
- Norplex-Micarta turning and milling: Turning: 400 sfpm (about 120 m/min) with HSS, about twice that with carbide. Tool included angle 80–100°, side clearance angle 10–16°, dry. Leave about 0.010 inch for finishing. Milling: speeds and feeds similar to bronze or mild steel work, and a slight rake angle gives better results[8]
- Norplex-Micarta drilling and threading: For paper and cotton cloth bases, a standard HSS drill with generous clearance is enough, and carbide-tipped drills are better for volume production or deep holes. Withdraw the drill often to prevent binding and overheating, feed lightly and steadily, and run far faster than for mild steel (up to 16,000 rpm with carbide). Use a scrap backing plate on the exit side to prevent chipping. Take special care against cracking when drilling parallel to the laminations. Drills tend to cut undersize, so use a pilot drill and tap drill 0.002 inch larger. Because the material is abrasive, taps cut right to finished size and tend to bind on backing out; use carbide taps for volume production[8]
- Dust: Norplex-Micarta repeatedly says to remove dust with good exhaust when machining glass-base material, and also says to remove chips of paper base by suction. It states that compliance with regulations is the user's responsibility. No primary source describing specific health effects of paper- and cloth-base dust was found[8]
📚Sources
Primary sources (public documents from makers, industry associations and standards bodies), numbered where each value is cited. Many are in Japanese.
- webdesk.jsa.or.jp https://webdesk.jsa.or.jp/pdf/errata/jis_k_06912_000_000_2006_cor_1_200706_j_ch.pdf
- risho.co.jp https://www.risho.co.jp/products/item/ps-1121e/
- risho.co.jp https://www.risho.co.jp/products/item/ps-2161e/
- sumibe.co.jp https://www.sumibe.co.jp/ww-attaches/805.pdf
- webstore.iec.ch https://webstore.iec.ch/en/publication/3834
- astm.org https://www.astm.org/Standards/D709.htm
- sandvik.coromant.com https://www.sandvik.coromant.com/en-us/knowledge/materials/workpiece-materials
- norplex-micarta.com https://www.norplex-micarta.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Fab_Guide.pdf
- store.astm.org https://store.astm.org/standards/d709
- risho.co.jp https://www.risho.co.jp/products/industrial/
- sumibe.co.jp https://www.sumibe.co.jp/product/hpp/circuitry/sumilite-pl/index.html
- sumibe.co.jp https://www.sumibe.co.jp/question/company/index.html
Other materials
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