What are Plenco Phenolic Resins?
Resins are polymers made by repeatedly linking discrete molecules (monomers) together to form chains or networks. Plenco phenolic resins are oligomers (polymers with a few repeating units) synthesized by repeatedly linking phenolic (hydroxy-aromatic) monomers with aldehyde chemicals. The majority of Plenco products are combinations of phenol (hydroxybenzene, C6H6O) and formaldehyde (methanal, CH2O), though specialized applications may require use of substituted phenols (e.g., cresols, resorcinol, cashew nutshell liquid distillate), or other aldehydes (e.g., furfural). Phenolic resin manufacturers polymerize phenol by substituting formaldehyde on the phenol's aromatic ring via a condensation reaction. The selection of suitable reaction parameter results in optimum molecular weight distribution and residual monomer content necessary for maximum efficiency when used by the customer. The wide range of reaction conditions and monomers available to the resin producer allows for the production of a variety of resins specifically designed for use in individual applications.
We present the general chemistry of the polymerization of phenol with formaldehyde, the most common molecules used, to provide a general background of resin manufacture.
In aqueous solution, formaldehyde exists in equilibrium with methylene glycol.