Phenolic resin is a highly versatile polymer that is widely used in the production of a variety of products due to its exceptional properties such as heat resistance, mechanical strength, and chemical tolerance. However, there are several synonyms for phenolic resin that are commonly used, including phenol-formaldehyde resin, Bakelite, novolac resin, and cresol-formaldehyde resin. Bakelite is the brand name for the first commercially successful phenolic resin, while novolac resin is a type of phenolic resin that is derived from the reaction of phenol and formaldehyde in the presence of an acid catalyst. Cresol-formaldehyde resin is another type of phenolic resin that is made from cresol and formaldehyde. Using these synonyms, phenolic resins can be easily distinguished based on their individual characteristics and applications.