Phenolic Resins
Phenol-formaldehyde condensation products. They are divided into novolac (acid-catalyzed, cured with hexamine) and resol (base-catalyzed, self-curing). They are binders in brake lining, abrasive, refractory, insulation and foundry applications; alkylphenol resins are tackifiers and resin curing agents in rubber.
Phenolic resins are produced by the condensation of phenol with formaldehyde. The production conditions give two main types: novolac and resol. A cured phenolic resin is a hard thermoset resistant to heat and chemicals.
In the rubber industry they appear in two roles: alkylphenol resins as tackifiers or butyl curing agents, and novolacs as reinforcing resins that add hardness. Outside rubber, they are binders for brake lining, abrasive wheels, refractories, mineral wool, foundry sand and laminates.
On this site, resins are described by type, not by product grade. Application-specific grades (for example brake lining resin, mineral wool resin) differ by manufacturer.
Comparison
| Type | Catalysis | Cure | Typical application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novolac | Acid, excess phenol | With HMTA | Brake lining, abrasive, foundry, rubber reinforcement |
| Resol | Base, excess formaldehyde | Self-curing with heat | Mineral wool, glass fiber, laminate, abrasive cloth |
| Alkylphenol | — | With heat, as curing agent type | Tackifier in rubber, IIR cure |
Relative, qualitative comparison; varies with formulation and rubber type.
3 substances
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