Synthesis of phenol-formaldehyde resole resins in the presence of tetraalkylammonium hydroxides as catalysts

We synthesised phenol-formaldehyde resole resins in the presence of tetraal kylammonium hydroxides as catalysts. The activity of these catalysts was co mpared with the activity of sodium hydroxide. Gas chromatography, thin laye r chromatography, C-13 NMR spectrometry, potentiometric titration and a few simple physicochemical methods were used to estimate the composition of th e obtained resins and their properties. It was concluded from these studies that tetraalkylammonium hydroxides are active catalysts and the resins obt ained in their presence show some interesting properties. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.