Phenols are a class of aromatic organic compounds in which one or more hydroxyl groups are attached directly to the aromatic benzene ring, C6H6. This article describes the development of phenolic resin and the formation of novolac resin and resol resin. Phenolic resol resins are used in interior can coatings and tank linings as well as for heat exchanger tube coatings because of their high chemical and thermal resistance. The article concludes with a description of the concerns that a specifier, user, or applicator should be aware of regarding the use of phenolic coatings.

This article describes the chemistry of phenolic resins and reviews their characteristics and properties for various composites fabrication processes. The fabrication processes include solution/hot-melt process, pultrusion, vacuum infusion, filament winding, sheet molding, and hand lay-up. The article illustrates the manufacturing process of phenolic honeycomb and provides information on the applications of phenolic composites.

This article provides a detailed discussion on the principal classes and curatives of epoxy resins used in the coatings industry. The principal classes are bisphenol A epoxy, bisphenol F epoxy, epoxy phenol novolac, cycloaliphatic epoxies, epoxy acrylate, brominated bisphenol-A-based epoxy, phosphorus-containing epoxy, fluorinated epoxies, epoxy esters, epoxy phosphate esters, and waterborne epoxy. The principal curatives are amines, amine adducts, cyanoethylated amines, ketimines, polyoxyalkylene amines, cycloaliphatic amines, aromatic amines, polyamides, amido amines, and dicyandiamides. Other curatives include polyester co-polymers, phenolic co-polymers, melamine and urea formaldehyde co-polymer resins, phosphate flame retardants, ultraviolet and electron beam curing of epoxy resins, Mannich bases, Mannich-based adducts, and anhydrides. The article concludes by discussing the concerns regarding the use of epoxy coatings.

This article discusses the major methods of elemental analysis, namely, the combustion method for carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen; the Kjeldahl method for nitrogen; and the Schoniger flask method for other common elements. It also discusses the methods of functional group analysis for acids, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, amines, esters, aromatic hydrocarbons, peroxides, phenols, water (Karl Fischer method), and alkenes.

No-bake sand molds are based on the curing of inorganic or organic binders with either gaseous catalysts or liquid catalysts. This article reviews the major aspects of no-bake sand bonding in terms of coremaking, molding methods, and sand processing. It discusses the points to be noted in handling sand-resin mixtures for no-bake molds or cones and lists some advantages of no-bake air-set cores and molds. The article describes the process procedures, advantages, and disadvantages of gas curing and air-setting hardening of sodium silicates. It examines the members of the air-setting organic binders, namely, furan no-bake resins, phenolic no-bake resins, and urethanes. The article provides an overview of gas-cured organic binders. It also illustrates the three commercial systems for sand reclamation: wet reclamation systems, dry reclamation systems, and thermal reclamation.

This article describes the resin and fabrication requirements associated with fiberglass-reinforced plastic equipment. It provides a discussion on various resins and their resistance to various environments. These include polyester, epoxy, epoxy vinyl-ester, and furan and phenolic thermosetting resins. The article concludes with a discussion on the curing system of thermosetting resins.

This article discusses the coating systems categorized by the generic type of binder or resin and grouped according to the curing or hardening mechanism inherent within that generic type. It focuses on the properties, advantages, and limitations of various autooxidative cross-linked resins, thermoplastic resins, and cross-linked thermosetting resins. The autooxidative cross-linked resins include alkyd resins and epoxy esters. The article examines the two types of coatings based on thermoplastic resins: those deposited by evaporation of a solvent, commonly called lacquers, and those deposited by evaporation of water, a class of coatings called water-borne coatings. The coatings that chemically cross link by copolymerization, including epoxies, unsaturated polyesters, urethanes, high-temperature curing silicones, and phenolic linings, are also described.

The structural efficiency of a composite structure is established by its joints and assembly. Adhesive bonding, mechanical fastening, and fusion bonding are three types of joining methods for polymer-matrix composites. This article provides information on surface treatment and the applications of adhesive bonding. It discusses the types of adhesives, namely, epoxy adhesives, epoxy-phenolic adhesives, condensation-reaction PI adhesives, addition-reaction PI adhesives, bismaleimide adhesives, and structural adhesives. The article provides information on fastener selection considerations, including corrosion compatibility, fastener materials and strength, head configurations, importance of clamp-up, interference fit fasteners, lightning strike protection, blind fastening, and sensitivity to hole quality. Types of fusion bonding are presented, namely, thermal welding, friction welding, electromagnetic welding, and polymer-coated material welding.

A thermosetting resin, or thermoset, is a synthetic organic polymer that cures to a solid, infusible mass by forming a three-dimensional network of covalent chemical bonds. Significant applications include construction and thermoset engineering plastics. This article discusses the general and family characteristics of thermosetting resin families, including allyls, aminos (urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde), cyanates, epoxies, polybenzimidazoles, unsaturated polyesters, thermoset polyimides, phenolics, and vinyl esters. It also explains processing methods, including curing and curing agents. The article provides descriptions of commercial product forms and the wide array of applications of thermosetting resins. It also tabulates the performance properties (mechanical, thermal, electrical and chemical resistance) of some families of unfilled or unreinforced thermosetting resins and reinforced or filled grades.

The design and analysis of aerospace and industrial composite components and assemblies requires a detailed knowledge of materials properties, which, in turn, depend on the manufacturing, machining, and assembly methods used. This article, through several tables and graphs, provides the mechanical properties, physical properties, and service characteristics of representative composite fiber-resin combinations, including thermoplastic matrix composites such as thermoplastic polyester resins, thermoplastic polyamide resins, and thermoplastic polysulfone resins, and thermoset matrix composites such as thermoset polyester resins, thermoset phenolic resins, thermoset epoxy resins, thermoset polyimide resins, and thermoset bismaleimide resins.