Spherical PF resin beads prepared from phenol-liquefied Bambusa dolichoclada with suspension polymerization

Abstract Bambusa dolichoclada Hayata (long-shoot bamboo) was liquefied in phenol with H₂SO₄ as a catalyst. The phenol-liquefied bamboo was then used as a raw material to prepare spherical phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin beads by a suspension polymerization in a two-step process. The influence of the stirring speed (300, 350 and 400 rpm), the stabilizer dosage (3%, 4% and 5%) and the total molar ratio of formaldehyde to free phenol (F/P) (3.0/1, 3.5/1 and 4.0/1) on the properties of spherical PF beads was investigated. The results show that the yield, diameter and dimensional distribution of prepared PF beads were influenced by reaction conditions. The diameter of beads decreased as the stabilizer dosage increased. It had a more uniform dimensional distribution when stirred with a speed of 400 rpm. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis shows that PF beads obtained were not completely cured and the post-curing reaction took place at temperatures exceeded 150°C. As revealed by thermal gravimetric analysis, the char yield was over 60% after heating to 800°C.