Some aspects of curing novolac with hexamethylenetetramine

Curing novolac with hexamethylenetetramine in closed molds at T = 190°C was studied. Cured products were examined with the following experimental techniques: sol fraction determination, % N fixed in sol and gel fractions, and IR spectra. The fraction of fixed N decreased from 1 to 0.5 when the hexa mass fraction was increased from 0 to 0.3 in the mixture with novolacs. A segregation of the fixed N in the sol fraction was observed. Azomethine derivatives were present, their amounts increasing with the hexa mass fraction. Curing was described by a reaction scheme similar to the one derived from studies with model phenols. A simplified scheme was adequate for the prediction of the minimum hexa amount necessary to gel the system at full conversion.