A survey of cresylic acid supply in the future with a historical perspective

Cresylic acids are the classical solvents of the wire enamel industry combining strong solvent power with reactivity and a broad, controllable boiling-range. This paper surveys the developing and potential future sources of cresylic acids such as coal gasification and coal liquefaction. Proposed techniques of recovery and expected yields of cresylic acids are discussed. For comparison, past and present sources of natural and synthetic cresylic acids used in the magnet wire industry are included in the survey. Cresylic acids from the various sources are compared on the basis of isomer distribution. The relationship between isomer distribution and solvency in model wire enamel systems was previously reported in a paper presented during the 1981 E/EIC. ¹