Method of producing a resinous condensation product

The production of thermoplastic alkali condensed phenol-furfural condensates suitable, with the addition of hexa as curing agent, for use in moulding powders, is characterized in that as catalyst an organic amine or an alkaline earth hydroxide in an amount sufficient to effect partial condensation is added to the unreacted mixture, partial condensation is effected, a further amount of catalyst is added and the condensation is continued until a little less than 1 mol. water is eliminated per mol. phenol, the total amount of catalyst employed being at most 0.1 mol. per mol. phenol. The catalyst may be added continuously in small quantities while the temperature is raised from 120-170 DEG C. A quantity of ammonia in amount not exceeding 0.1 mol. per mol. phenol may also be added to the reaction mixture. (1) 2 g. mol. monhydroxybenzene, 12 g. water, 1.8 g. mol. furfural and 2.5 g. calcium hydroxide are refluxed at 100 DEG C., the temperature being raised to 160 DEG C. in one hour while further 1 g. amounts of calcium hydroxide are added at intervals of 15 minutes. (2) As in (1) with the addition of 0.08 g. ammonia. A thin liquid product is obtained which solidifies to a brittle resin on cooling and is worked up with wood flour and hexamine to give a powder which on moulding in plate form had a shrinkage of only 0.77 per cent. Specification 719,717 is referred to.