Phenol and formaldehyde alternatives for novel synthetic phenolic resins: state of the art

Since their appearance and commercialization, phenolic resins have been widely used and adopted in many sectors of activity. Produced from phenol and formaldehyde, these thermosetting materials are now being singled out because of the dangerousness of their precursors as well as the fossil raw material from which they are produced. To address and deal with the current general issue on the reduction of the impact of human activity on the environment, this review details and evaluates current studies on alternative molecules that can be used instead of phenol and formaldehyde in the synthesis of phenolic resins. After a contextualizing introduction and a quick review of what phenolic resins are and how these materials are obtained, two main parts are devoted to the platform molecules likely to replace phenol, first, and formaldehyde, second. Finally, the author gives his opinion on the future potential of research concerning the substitution of these molecules and the future of phenolic resins.