Properties and Uses of Phenolic Resins

Important properties of phenolic resins are their hardness, corrosion resistance, rigidity, and resistance to water hydrolysis. They are also less expensive than many other polymers.

Many additives are used with phenolic resins such as wood flour, oils, asbestos, and fiberglass. Fiberglass piping made with phenolic resins can operate at 150°C and pressure up to 150 psi. Molding applications dominate the market of phenolic resins. Articles produced by injection molding have outstanding heat resistance and dimensional stability. Compression-molded glass-filled phenolic disk brake pistons are replacing the steel ones in many automobiles because of their light weight and corrosion resistance. Phenolics are also used in a variety of other applications such as adhesives, paints, laminates for building, automobile parts, and ion exchange resins. Global production of phenol-formaldehyde resins exceeded 5 billion pounds in 1997