Preferred water-dispersible phenolic compounds for use in the high temperature crosslinker include those of the formula ##STR2## where each R2 is independently selected from one of the groups: NO2 ; carboxyl; sulfonic acid; CHO; COR3 where R3 is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, preferably only 1 carbon atom; a halogen such as F, Cl, Br or I; and hydrogen.