Literally, anything containing phenol, which is a petroleum distillate having many industrial applications. Phenolic resin, with which phenolic airframes are impregnated, is made by mixing phenol with an aldehyde such as formaldehyde, and is used for forming all sorts of molded and cast items. Phenolic airframes are made by impregnating paper with phenolic resin, then tightly winding it into a tube and allowing the resin to cure. The word phenolic is often used to describe any body tube which contains phenolic resin.