This article covers the introduction to polymer composites, phenol formaldehyde resin, phenol formaldehyde composites, and foams along with their properties and applications. The previous research in the fields of phenol formaldehyde composites, nanocomposites, and PF foams is also covered in depth. Various combinations of nanomaterials and processes have been investigated in the field of structural composites to meet the requirements of industries such as automotive, aerospace, military, civil, and construction. Due to their different features and possibilities when compared to equivalents composed of other polymers, particularly thermosets, phenol-formaldehyde reinforced composites are commonly used for large load bearing structural applications. Composite properties can be improved by using nanoparticles, which are materials that have been developed as a result of advances in nanotechnology. This research focuses on a literature review of nanofillers' use to improve the structural properties of phenol-formaldehyde composites and foams published in the last two decades. The use of nanomaterials to modify composites is examined in depth.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.