Knowra Phenol–formaldehyde resin Phenol–formaldehyde resin A thermosetting synthetic polymer formed by reacting phenol with formaldehyde. Its heat resistance, electrical insulation, and ability to form rigid shapes made it useful in adhesives, laminates, and molded products.
Phenol : An aromatic organic compound with a hydroxyl group attached to a benzene ring. Its reactive ring sites bond with formaldehyde during resin formation.
Laminated plastic : A material made by bonding layers of sheets or fibers with a resin. Phenol–formaldehyde resin binds paper and fabric layers into strong laminates.
Leo Baekeland : A Belgian-American chemist and inventor who developed Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic. His process made phenol–formaldehyde resin practical for commercial molding.
Urea–formaldehyde resin : A thermosetting resin made from urea and formaldehyde, widely used in wood adhesives and molded goods. It is generally lighter in color and often less heat- and water-resistant than phenolic resin.
Plastics industry : The industrial production and processing of polymer materials into commercial goods. Phenolic resin helped establish plastics as durable materials for mass-produced products.
Novolac : A phenol–formaldehyde prepolymer made under acidic conditions with excess phenol, typically requiring a curing agent to harden. It is one product of the resin reaction, later cured into a cross-linked solid.
Plywood : An engineered wood panel made by bonding thin wood veneers with adhesive. Phenolic adhesives are used where plywood needs moisture and heat resistance.
Bakelite : An early commercial phenol–formaldehyde plastic developed by Leo Baekeland. Its introduction established the resin as an industrial material.
Melamine–formaldehyde resin : A thermosetting resin made from melamine and formaldehyde, used in laminates, tableware, and coatings. It offers a hard, often decorative surface where phenolic resin is typically darker.
Electrical engineering : The engineering discipline concerned with electricity, electronics, and electromagnetic systems. Insulating phenolic parts supported the spread of affordable electrical devices.
Show all 25