Formaldehyde → Formaldehyde;phenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A resole phenol-formaldehyde resin is produced as follows: There is placed in a reaction kettle a mixture comprising 55% by weight of phenol (98% conc.) with 45% by weight of a 50% formaldehyde in water. A more dilute solution of formaldehyde in water can be used producing similar results, such as the commercial 37% formaldehyde solution commonly used in the resin industry. Water may, if required, be vacuum distilled off to produce a resin with the desired amount of water remaining. The maximum amount of water allowable in the initial blend of phenol and formaldehyde will be determined by the reactivity of the phenol-formaldehyde-water mix. That is when a more dilute solution of formaldehyde in water is used, the excess water descreases the reactivity of the mix. It is therefore desirable to use at least the 37% solution of formaldehyde.

Provenance & Evidence