Studies on phenolic resin cement

In this study the influence of different side groups in the phenol molecule on the properties of composites made of phenolic resin and cement pastes was investigated. The three phenolic resins considered were phenol formaldehyde, resorcinol formaldehyde and m-cresol formaldehyde, which differ in the nature of the side groups in the meta position of the phenolic ring. The study shows that resorcinol formaldehyde resin cement pastes possess superior chemical resistance (a minimum of 95% retention of compressive strength after immersing the composites in acid, base and kerosene at room temperature for 24 h) in comparison with virgin cement pastes and its composites with phenol formaldehyde and m-cresol formaldehyde. Microstructural studies reveal that the properties of phenolic resin cement pastes depend on the molecular interactions between the resins and cement particles in the polymer cement matrix. The resulting interpenetrating polymer network in the composite matrix is responsible for protection against external chemical environments.