Industrial Applications of Renewable Plastics

5.9. Renewable Phenol Formaldehyde Resins

Thermosetting phenolic resins (PF) are obtained by the reaction of triphenols and formaldehyde:

• In an acidic medium, a first step leads to a thermoplastic that is reticulated in a second step by a curing agent or hardener (hexamethylenetetramine). These resins are called novolac or “two step.”

• Reaction in an alkaline medium yields products known as resols or “one step.”

5.9.1. Biosourced Phenolic Resins

Two ways can be exploited: use of renewable phenols and replacement of formaldehyde by a renewable alternative.

Cardolite (http://www.cardolite.com/), a producer of cashew nutshell liquid derivatives, proposes binder resins for use in the transportation and brake industries. These thermosetting resins are ...