Abstract: A catalyst composition comprising trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (also referred to as triflic acid) and a sufficient quantity of a substance (also referred to as a retarder) to decrease but not eliminate the catalytic activity of the acid is disclosed. Also disclosed, is a method and composition for condensing a hydroxyaryl with a diene by use of the catalyst composition. The method is capable of producing condensates having: a mole ratio of 1 mole of the diene to one mole of the hydroxyaryl; one mole of diene to two moles of the hydroxyaryl as well as higher molecular weight products such as resins by changes in temperature, time of reaction, type and quantity of retarder and other variables.

Abstract: A pultrusion process employing a resole-resorcinol resin system, having a much improved pot life and much lower formaldehyde odor over similar existing systems where the resole contains up to 3.5%, preferably 3%, most preferably not more than about 1.5% free formaldehyde.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for the manufacture of a fluorescent polyphenolic product with high UV absorbance, its subsequent epoxidation, polyphenolic products, epoxidized derivatives and compositions thereof as well as laminates containing fluorescent polyphenolic products and derivatives thereof. The polyphenolic products are prepared by heating glyoxal at a temperature of about 80° C. to about 100° C. with a molar excess of a phenol in the presence of an acidic catalyst which is eliminated from the reaction mixture at a temperature below about 170° C. The total mole ratio of glyoxal to phenol charged to the reaction mixture is about 0.15 to 0.22 moles of glyoxal for each mole of phenol. The glyoxal is added continuously or by stepwise additions to the phenol so as to keep the aldehyde units in the reaction mixture to less than about 70% of the aldehyde units in the total quantity of glyoxal to be charged for making the polyphenol.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for the manufacture of a fluorescent polyphenolic product with high UV absorbance, its subsequent epoxidation as well as polyphenolic products and epoxidized derivatives and compositions thereof. The polyphenolic products are prepared by heating glyoxal at a temperature of about 80° C. to about 100° C. with a molar excess of a phenol in the presence of an acidic catalyst which is eliminated from the reaction mixture at a temperature below about 170° C. The total mole ratio of glyoxal to phenol charged to the reaction mixture is about 0.15 to 0.22 moles of glyoxal for each mole of phenol. The glyoxal is added continuously or by stepwise additions to the phenol so as to keep the aldehyde units in the reaction mixture to less than about 70% of the aldehyde units in the total quantity of glyoxal to be charged for making the polyphenol. Water is distilled stepwise or continuously from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides a method for improving the tensile strength of foundry cores and molds over what may be conventionally achieved. The use of acidic methylene compounds in binder compositions which include strongly alkaline phenolic resoles results in an ester curable binder that may be used to make foundry cores and molds having significantly greater tensile strengths than are achieved with prior art binders. An embodiment of the present invention provides a composition which includes a phenolic resole having a pH ranging from about 10.5 to about 13.5 and an acidic methylene compound.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for the production of composite wood products. This process comprises a) applying a binder composition to wood particles, and b) molding or compressing the wood particles treated with the binder to form a composite wood product. Suitable binder compositions comprise a polymethylene poly(phenyl isocyanate) and a solid resole resin.

Abstract: The specification discloses epoxidized products and compositions of a polyphenol of a phenol and glyoxal wherein the polyphenol prior to epoxidation has an ultraviolet (UV) absorbance of at lest 0.260 at 365 nanometers (nm) and/or at least 0.400 at 350 nm.

Abstract: A fire resistant phenolic resole-resorcinol novolac system for a pultrusion process, having a much improved pot life of the two part mixture, lower emissions during processing and a much better surface finish of the pultruded composite when compared to a similar existing system. A method of making a phenolic resole for pultrusion including, but not limited to, the use of modified phenols such as p-phenyl phenol and nonyl phenol.

Abstract: A two-part adhesive is provided wherein the first part comprises a stable aqueous alkaline monohydroxylic phenolic resole resin solution containing a methylene donor such as oxazolidine or a methylolurea and the second part comprises a stable resorcinolic resin precondensate having a shortage of formaldehyde and optionally containing a catalyst such as an ester functional compound for the resole resin. The resin in each part exhibits viscosity stability of an unmodified resin until mixed with the other part wherein the methylene donor, of the first part catalyzes the resorcinolic resin of the second part and the catalyst, when used, of the second part catalyzes the monohydroxylic phenolic resole resin of the first part. The adhesive finds utility in the production of structural lignocellulosic panels.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for the manufacture of a fluorescent polyphenolic product with high UV absorbance, its subsequent epoxidation as well as polyphenolic products and epoxidized derivatives and compositions thereof. The polyphenolic products are prepared by heating glyoxal at a temperature of about 80.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. with a molar excess of a phenol in the presence of an acidic catalyst which is eliminated from the reaction mixture at a temperature below about 170.degree. C. The total mole ratio of glyoxal to phenol charged to the reaction mixture is about 0.15 to 0.22 moles of glyoxal for each mole of phenol. The glyoxal is added continuously or by stepwise additions to the phenol so as to keep the aldehyde units in the reaction mixture to less than about 70% of the aldehyde units in the total quantity of glyoxal to be charged for making the polyphenol. Water is distilled stepwise or continuously from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: An inorganic binder system for foundry compositions includes a silicate and added phosphate. The composition produces a binder having the advantageous strength properties of a silicate binder system with the dispersibility properties of a phosphate binder system. Methods of making and using the binder systems and the resulting products are of particular interest to the foundry art.

Abstract: Discloses compositions of urea dissolved in aqueous, polymerizable phenolic resole resins, wood-product laminated composite products produced with such resins, with or without the urea, and methods for the production of wood-product laminated composites with such resins. The resins contain the alkaline polymerization product of (a) formaldehyde polymerized with phenol and aliphatic hydrocarbylphenol or (b) aliphatic hydrocarbylphenol dissolved in the resin containing the polymerization product of phenol and formaldehyde, wherein the hydrocarbylphenol has from 9 to 17 carbon atoms in the hydrocarbyl group and the quantity of hydrocarbylphenol is from about 0.2% to 5% based on the weight of the aqueous resole resin. Wood-product laminate composites bound with the above resole resin, after curing, exhibit unexpectedly low water absorption, good internal bond strength and reduced thickness swell properties.

Abstract: Disclosed are acid hardenable phenolic resin compositions and novolac compositions modified with about 5 to about 15% by weight of at least one reactive diluent selected from the group consisting of benzylic alcohol, benzylic ether, ethylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, monoallyl or methylallyl ethers of poly(methylol) alkanes, monoallyl ether of glycerine, allyl or methallyl glycidyl ether, N-acylated arylamine, N-acylated naphthylamine, N-substituted arylsulfonamide, and N-substituted arylamine. The reactive diluent can be used to improve impact resistance and flexibility of the acid hardenable phenolic resin. Preferably, the methods for modifying mix life of acid hardenable phenolic resin by use of aryl phosphite and benzylic alcohol, and methods for modifying novolac resins, as well as methods for making the present compositions and products, such as coiled filament pipe and laminate panels, employing the compositions are also disclosed.

Abstract: A curable composition is disclosed that is useful for securing color coded optical fibers in a matrix of an optical fiber cable. The matrix material can be stripped from the individual fibers without removing the color coding associated with the individual fibers. The matrix material is also resistant to solvents used in the stripping process.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing lignocellulosic composites. This method is useful in reducing the thickness swell of these composites on their exposure to water. This method also is useful in reducing the hot-press times required to make lignocellulosic composites. Furthermore, there is provided a method by which wax sizing may be used without the previously expected reduction in physical properties. Also, there is provided a method by which caul plate sticking may be reduced when hydrogen peroxide is used as a furnish add-on.

Abstract: A reinforced structural composite member includes a plurality of wood members with at least one recess in a first wood member facing another wood member and a generally rectangular fiber reinforcing composite member secured within the recess. The recesses are in the aggregate of lesser width than the wood members within which they are secured. In a preferred embodiment the aggregate width of the recesses is less than about 30 percent of the width of the wood member having the recesses. A suitable adhesive, which is preferably resorcinol or a phenol resorcinol-based adhesive, may be employed to secure the wood members to each other. The elongated fiber reinforcing composites may be adhesively secured within the recesses. Corresponding methods employing either preformed recesses or in situ formed recesses are provided.

Abstract: Coated optical fibers comprise a glass optical fiber and a radiation-cured coating formed from a radiation-curable liquid coating composition. The liquid coating composition comprises at least one aliphatic urethane acrylate oligomer, at least one acrylated or methacrylated compound selected from the group consisting of isobornyl acrylate, isobornyl methacrylate, alkanediol diacrylate, alkanediol dimethacrylates, alkoxylated derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof, and a photoinitiator. In one embodiment, the compositions further include a silicone compatibility agent which reduces the coefficient of friction of the radiation-cured coating without disadvantageously effecting other physical properties of the liquid coating compositions or the cured coating, and particularly without disadvantageously effecting the optical clarity of the liquid coating compositions.

Abstract: A binder composition of a phenolic novolac resin and a (lower) alkoxylated triazine-formaldehyde resin curing agent is disclosed. The triazine resins have sufficient carbon atoms in the alkoxy groups so as to provide a curing agent having a water solubility of less than 15%. The binder cures at high temperatures so as to provide improved flow and prolonged workability to the composition. The compositions are useful in refractory applications having a need for high temperature curing agents such as for maintenance and repair within refractory vessels by gunning/spraying, manufacture of electrodes by the Soderberg method, and for use in blast furnace tap holes.

Abstract: The specification discloses a method for the manufacture of a fluorescent polyphenolic product with high UV absorbance, its subsequent epoxidation as well as polyphenolic products and epoxidized derivatives and compositions thereof. The polyphenolic products are prepared by heating glyoxal at a temperature of about 80.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. with a molar excess of a phenol in the presence of an acidic catalyst which is eliminated from the reaction mixture at a temperature below about 170.degree. C. The total mole ratio of glyoxal to phenol charged to the reaction mixture is about 0.15 to 0.22 moles of glyoxal for each mole of phenol. The glyoxal is added continuously or by stepwise additions to the phenol so as to keep the aldehyde units in the reaction mixture to less than about 70% of the aldehyde units in the total quantity of glyoxal to be charged for making the polyphenol. Water is distilled stepwise or continuously from the reaction mixture.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for improving the characteristics of foundry cores which includes adding to a foundry aggregate mixture polyurethane resin binder comprising epoxy resin and, preferably, paraffinic oil.