Phenol formaldehyde resin (plastic) was the first commercial polymers used in the 20th century. We abbreviate the Phenol formaldehyde resin as PF. It is also known as the phenolic resin, one of the first synthetic polymers that we can obtain by the reaction of phenol or substituted phenol with formaldehyde.
What are Phenol and Formaldehyde?
Here, phenol is an aromatic alcohol that we can obtain from benzene. Bakelite is a phenolic plastic. Further, formaldehyde is reactive and can be derived from methane (CH4).
Phenol formaldehyde resin chemical formula is C8H6O2. It has various properties that we will discuss on this page.
Also, we will understand the phenol formaldehyde resin structure, phenol formaldehyde resin preparation, and phenol formaldehyde reaction.
What is Phenol Formaldehyde Resin?
Phenol formaldehyde Resin or PF are synthetic high polymers.
We can produce PF by the reaction with phenol and substituted phenol with formaldehyde.
Besides polyurethanes and polyesters, phenolic and epoxy resins are the widely known applications for technical lignins in thermosetting materials.
We produce phenolic resins by a step-growth polymerization reaction that can be either in the presence of acid or base (used as catalysts).
PFs are normally in liquid state and their specific gravity ranges from 1.12 to 1.16.
Now, let’s have a look at the Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Structure.
Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Structure
The Phenol formaldehyde resin structure looks like the following:
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Along with the structure, every chemical compound has several properties that we will understand below.
Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Properties
In Phenol formaldehyde, an exclusive range of molding powders is available in which the composition of the resin, fillers, etc, varies to provide moldings suitable for many purposes.
Here, the commonly used techniques for its preparation are compression and transfer processes.
The below table shows the illustration of the chemical and physical properties of Phenol Formaldehyde Resin or PF:
Parameters
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Corresponding Value Structure
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Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Structure (Chemical structure)
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()
Phenol Formaldehyde Polymer
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Phenolic resin’s polarisability
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10-24 cm3
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Enthalpy of Vapourization
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43.52 KJ/mol
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Polar Surface Area
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9.23 Å2
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Bond donor
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1 H bond donor
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Bond acceptor
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1 H bond acceptor
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Flash Point
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72.5 °C
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Boiling Point at 760 mm of Hg
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181.8 °C
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Vapour Pressure at 0.614 mm of Hg
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25°C
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Phenolic resin colour
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Amber coloured
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Surface
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Smooth and lustrous surface
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Stability
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Hard and rigid, with good dimensional stability
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Strength
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Brittle in thin sections
Has low impact strength
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Molding Efficiency
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Easy to mold
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Retaining properties
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Retain properties at freezing temperatures
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Strength
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Improvised strength
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Dimensional stability
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Good dimensional stability on heating up to about 300 degrees F
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Impact Resistance
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Improved impact resistance
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Colour
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The Colour is good. It can be both normally transparent and colourless.
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Electrical Property
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Good electrical insulators
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Type of plastic
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Laminated Plastics
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How Phenol Formaldehyde Resins are Produced?
The two following main production methods are:
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The reaction of phenol with formaldehyde produces a thermosetting network polymer.
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Another approach restricts the formaldehyde to produce a prepolymer known as a volcano.
A volcano can be molded, and therefore, cured with the addition of formaldehyde and heat.
There are many variations in both production and input materials that we use to produce a wide variety of resins for particular purposes.
Now, let’s understand the Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Preparation.
Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Preparation
A step-growth polymerization reaction that can be either acid – or base-catalysed method is used for Phenol-formaldehyde resins (as a group) preparation.
Since formaldehyde (a reactive derivative of methane) exists as a dynamic equilibrium of methylene glycol oligomers for the most part in the solution.
Further, the concentration of the reactive form of formaldehyde depends on the following two factors:
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Temperature
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pH
First Preparation Process
Phenol on reacting with formaldehyde at the ortho and para-sites, namely – 2, 4, and 6 sites permit up to 3 units of formaldehyde to associate with the ring.
The involvement of involves the formation of a hydroxymethyl phenol is crucial in all the cases of the initial reaction:
[C_6H_5OH + CH_20 rightarrow HOC_6H_4CH_2OH]
Phenol Formaldehyde 4 – Hydroxybenzyl alcohol
The hydroxymethyl group is capable of reacting with either of the following:
A free ortho or para-site or
With another hydroxymethyl group.
The first reaction produces a methylene bridge, and the second gi
ves an ether bridge in the following reactions:
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Methylene Bridge: [HOC_6H_4CH_2OH + C_6H_5OH rightarrow (HOC_6H_4)^2CH_2 + H_2O]
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Ether Bridge: [2 HOC_6H_4CH_2OH rightarrow (HOC_6H_4)2O + H_2O] PF Resin
Here, the diphenol a.k.a [(HOC_6H_4)2CH_2] is also known as “dimer”. Also, we call it the bisphenol F.
The bisphenol F is a crucial monomer in epoxy resin production. Further, Bisphenol-F links generate tri- and tetra-and higher phenolic oligomers.
Phenol Formaldehyde Resin Applications
Phenol formaldehyde Resin has several uses in industry. Besides this, it possesses the following applications:
1. In-Circuit Board Preparation
Phenolic resins are primarily used for making circuit boards like PCB.
Further, we find the applications of phenolic resins in Electrical equipment.
2. Day-to-Day Applications
Also, it is needed in the following areas:
We also find its use in Laminated Materials like Laminated sheets, rods, and tubes, made in great variety from fabric, paper, wood veneers, etc impregnated with phenolic resins providing a variety of materials of widely differing properties.
Industrial Applications of Phenol Formaldehyde Resin
In industrial practice, the two basic methods are used for transforming the polymer into useful resins:
1. First Method
An excess of formaldehyde is made to react with phenol in the presence of a base catalyst in water solution to produce a low-molecular-weight prepolymer called a resole.
Here, the resole frequently found in liquid form or solution, is cured to a solid thermosetting network polymer.
For instance, compressing it between layers of wood veneer, and therefore, heating this assembly under pressure to form plywood.
2. Second Method
This method involves the reaction of formaldehyde with an excess of phenol, in the presence of an acid catalyst.
The second process produces a solid prepolymer known as novolac (or novolak).
Here, novolak resembles the final polymer; however, it has a much lower molecular weight and is still thermoplastic. It means that we can soften it by reheating without undergoing chemical decomposition.
The curing process can be accomplished by grinding the novolac to a powder, therefore, mixing it with fillers such as wood flour, minerals, or glass fibres. Further, heating the mixture in a pressurized mold.
To obtain a thermosetting resin, novolacs need additional formaldehyde or, more commonly, compounds that decompose into formaldehyde upon heating.