SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION AND GLASS-REINFORCED COMPOSITES OF ACETONE-FORMALDEHYDE-PHENOL RESINS

Acetone-formaldehyde (AF) resin having the methylol group (-CH2OH) has been prepared and characterized. The condensation of AF resin with ph enol (P) was carried out in the presence of alcoholic alkali catalyst at varying ratios of AF:P, namely 1:1, 1:1.5 and 1:2. The resultant AF P resins were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectral studies , number average molecular weight ((M) over bar(n)) estimated by non-a queous conductometric titration, and thermogravimetry. The curing stud y of AFP resins with hexamethylene tetramine (HMTA) was monitored by d ifferential scanning calorimetly (DSC) and kinetic parameters were eva luated. Glass-reinforced composites based on the AFP-HMTA system have also been prepared and characterized.