Phenolic resin, method for producing the resin and epoxy resin composition for encapsulation

Abstract

A phenolic resin is represented by the formula (1) ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 denotes a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m denotes an integer of from 0 to 10 and n denotes 0, 1 or 2. A method for producing the phenolic resin involves reacting in the presence of an acid catalyst 3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroindene and a phenol represented by the formula (2) ##STR2## wherein R.sup.1 denotes a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and n denotes 0, 1 or 2. An epoxy resin composition for encapsulation contains: (a) a curable epoxy resin, (b) the above phenolic resin, (c) a curing promotor, and (d) an inorganic filler.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.