Phenolic (Canvas/Linen)
A fabric-reinforced thermoset, not a thermoplastic — it does not melt, and it machines like a composite. Canvas and linen grades, in sheet, rod and tube.
Canvas phenolic (CE) typical properties
Figures are for canvas-base phenolic laminate, NEMA grade CE (Norplex-Micarta NP310E). These are typical values, not a specification. The datasheet behind each figure is linked in its row: the manufacturer’s where one publishes the figure, a distributor’s otherwise. Figures vary by supplier and test method, so confirm against the datasheet for the grade and stock form you are designing with.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Density | 1.37g/cc |
| Tensile strength | 11,000psi ultimate, no yield pointASTM D638 (Condition A, lengthwise, 0.125 in)Norplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) |
| Tensile modulus | Not published by the makers cited |
| Flexural modulus | 1,600,000psi ASTM D790 (Condition A, lengthwise, 0.0625 in)Norplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) |
| Hardness | 100Rockwell M ASTM D785 (0.250 in build-up)Norplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) |
| Izod impact, notched | 1.7ft-lb/in ASTM D256 (Condition E-48/50, lengthwise, 0.500 in)Norplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) |
| Temperature index (UL 746B, electrical) | 239°F manufacturer's recommended temperature index, UL 746B method; grade not UL listedNorplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) Electrical temperature index. The mechanical index is 257 °F. |
| Heat deflection temp @ 264 psi | Not published by the makers cited |
| Water absorption, 24 h | 2.0% ASTM D570 (Condition D-24/23, 0.0625 in)Norplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) |
| Thermal expansion (CTE) | 1.11×10⁻⁵ in/in/°F IPC-TM-650 2.4.24, in-plane (x-axis)Norplex-Micarta NP310E Technical Data Bulletin (NEMA LI-1 Grade CE canvas phenolic), 7/14/2022 (opens in a new tab) |
| FDA food contact | Not rated The cited suppliers make no food-contact statement for this grade. |
Figures are for canvas (CE) grade, lengthwise where the datasheet gives two directions; crosswise values are lower. Linen (LE) grade is a finer-weave cotton and its values differ. A laminate has no yield point, so tensile strength is the ultimate value.
What Phenolic is
Fabric-reinforced laminate with excellent electrical and mechanical properties.
Why engineers specify it
Phenolic is a thermoset, which is the whole point: it does not soften and flow the way a thermoplastic does as it heats, so it holds its form and its insulating properties at temperatures that would move acetal or nylon. The fabric reinforcement is what separates the grades — canvas is the coarser weave and the tougher, more wear-oriented choice, linen is finer and machines to a better finish for closer work. It is specified where electrical insulation and mechanical duty have to coexist.
Machining Phenolic
Phenolic machines like a composite rather than a plastic, and the fabric reinforcement is abrasive — it dulls tooling noticeably faster than any thermoplastic, so carbide is the sensible default. It cuts dry and produces dust rather than chips, so extraction matters. The failure mode to design around is delamination and edge breakout at the laminate layers: sharp tooling, backing the material where a cutter exits, and easing sharp corners all keep the edges intact.
Need Phenolic parts machined to print?
Send us a drawing and we will quote it. Precision plastic machining in Linden, New Jersey since 1968.