Abstract: Structure of plant oils, characters of phenolic resin and modification methods of phenolic resin with plant oil in recent years were summarized in order to design and apply new phenolic resin. Based on reaction principles, modification methods using formaldehyde solution method, epoxidation, conjugate copolymerization, esterification and amination were reviewed. Compared with advantages and disadvantages of different modification methods, now modification methods which can be industrialized were formaldehyde aqueous solution method and the amination method. As a result, using plant oil instead of non-renewable oil product to synthesize and modify phenolic resin not only protected the environment, but also reduced cost. At the same time, the modified phenolic resin with plant oil improved adhesive force, flame retardancy and mechanical properties of resin, and reduced water imbibitions. Applications of modified phenolic resins with soybean oil, tung oil, cashew phenol oil and cashew nut shell oil in friction material, printing ink, line copper clad, and laminated board were discussed, and their future prospects were previewed.

Key words: plant oils, phenolic resins, synthesis, modification