Abstract: A composition is disclosed, which comprises a hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin comprising an aldehyde and a hydroxyaromatic compound, modified with a urea-aldehyde condensate. The hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin is prepared without ammonia or a primary amine and the composition does not contain a triazone or a substituted triazone compound. The composition has improved premix stability, improved cure efficiency, comparable tensile strength, and lower volatiles than the hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin unmodified with a urea-aldehyde condensate. Also disclosed are articles prepared therefrom.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of a modified phenolic-aldehyde resin composition, comprises reacting a base with a phenolic compound to produce a phenolate medium; adding an aldehyde source to the phenolate medium wherein the initial mole ratio of aldehyde to phenolic compound is about 0.7:1 to about 1.4:1; heating the aldehyde source and phenolate medium for a time and at a temperature sufficient to yield an aldehyde-phenolate medium with a level of free aldehyde of less than about 0.5% of the total mass on a liquids basis; adding a urea-aldehyde condensate to the aldehyde-phenolate medium; and condensing the resulting urea-aldehyde-phenolate medium, wherein the modified phenolic-aldehyde resin composition is not infinitely dilutable in water. A modified phenolic-aldehyde resin prepared by this method is also disclosed, as are articles prepared therewith.

Abstract: A composition is disclosed, which comprises a hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin comprising an aldehyde and a hydroxyaromatic compound, modified with a urea-aldehyde condensate. The composition has improved premix stability, improved cure efficiency, comparable tensile strength, and lower volatiles than the hydroxyaromatic-aldehyde resole resin unmodified with a urea-aldehyde condensate. Also disclosed are articles prepared therefrom.