Phenol Formaldehyde Resin

Phenol-formaldehyde resin, also called phenolic resin, any of a number of synthetic resins made by reacting phenol (an aromatic alcohol derived from benzene) with formaldehyde (a reactive gas derived from methane). Phenol-formaldehyde resins were the first completely synthetic polymers to be commercialized. In the first decades of the 20th century, Bakelite, a trademarked phenolic plastic, revolutionized the market for molded and laminated parts for use in electrical equipment. Phenolics are still very important industrial polymers, though their most common use today is in adhesives for the bonding of plywood and other structural wood products. The chemical composition of phenol and formaldehyde and their combination into networks of permanently interlinked large molecules are explained briefly in the article aldehyde condensation polymer.
Phenol-formaldehyde resins make excellent wood adhesives for plywood and particleboard because they form chemical bonds with the phenol-like lignin component of wood. They are especially desirable for exterior plywood, owing to their good moisture resistance. Phenolic resins, invariably reinforced with fibres or flakes, are also molded into insulating and heat-resistant objects such as appliance handles, distributor caps, and brake linings.