Lm. Pratt et al., ALKALINE-DEGRADATION OF RESORCINOL-FORMALDEHYDE RESINS - SOLID-STATE NMR, THERMAL ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION ANALYSIS, AND MOLECULAR MODELING, Journal of macromolecular science. Pure and applied chemistry, A34(2), 1997, pp. 281-289
Resorcinol-formaldehyde resins, used for alkali metal-cation exchange,
were shown to degrade more rapidly in the metallated form compared to
the protonated form. Solid-state C-13 NMR showed additional peaks in
the partially degraded resin corresponding to quinone and other carbon
yl functionalities, which are absent in the undegraded resin. Semiempi
rical molecular orbital calculations were used in conjunction with the
experimental data to elucidate the degradation mechanism.