What materials may be damaged by phenols?

Phenols are organic compounds that can be quite reactive, particularly with certain materials. They are known to attack and degrade polymers and other synthetic materials. Rubber and plastic are examples of such materials that can be compromised by the presence of phenolic compounds. When phenol comes into contact with rubber or plastic, it can cause changes in their structure, leading to brittleness, discoloration, or outright degradation. This makes rubber and plastic particularly vulnerable to damage when exposed to phenolic substances.

On the other hand, materials like glass and ceramic are generally resistant to phenolic compounds, showing no significant damage from them. Metals may also have various reactions with different compounds but typically do not succumb to the same level of damage as rubber and plastic when exposed to phenols. Thus, the choice of rubber and plastic as materials that may be damaged by phenols is well-founded, acknowledging the chemical interactions that phenols can cause with these types of materials.