Formaldehyde → Formaldehyde;phenol

Participants

Reaction Conditions

Reaction Steps

A phenol formaldehyde resole was prepared in the laboratory in a 4-liter reactor equipped with a reflux condenser, a thermocouple for reading temperatures in ° C., an addition funnel, an air stirrer with double blade impeller, and means for heating (mantle) and cooling (ice bath) the reactor. First, 2550 grams of 90 percent phenol (24.4 moles) was weighed out and added to the reactor. Then 45.6 grams of a 45% KOH solution (0.366 moles) was weighed out and added to the reactor. This phenol-catalyst mixture was agitated while being heated to 78° C. In the meantime, 1610 grams of 91% paraformaldehyde flakes (48.8 moles) was weighed out. When the reactor temperature reached 78° C., one tenth of the paraformaldehyde flake (161.0 grams) was added to the reactor. This incremental addition of paraformaldehyde was performed in a total of ten substantially equal additions staggered at 10 minute intervals. During the addition period, the temperature was maintained between about 78°-82° C.

Provenance & Evidence