Melamine-formaldehyde resin adhesives

Urea is used as a solid fertilizer, a liquid fertilizer and miscellaneous applications such as animal feed, urea, formaldehyde resins, melamine, and adhesives. Presently, the most popular nitrogen fertilizer is a urea-ammonium nitrate solution. Urea-formaldehyde resins have large use as a plywood adhesive. Melamine-formaldehyde resins are used as dinnerware and for extra-hard surfaces (Formica ). The melamine is synthesized by condensation of urea molecules. 

Formulations, adhesives, melamine-formaldehyde, resins, thermomechanical analysis, gel permeation chromatography, density profile, wood panels... 

The use of hydroxyethyl (also hydroxypropyl) methacrylate as a monomer permits the introduction of reactive hydroxyl groups into the copolymers. This offers the possibility for subsequent cross-linking with an HO-reactive difunctional agent (diisocyanate, diepoxide, or melamine-formaldehyde resin). Hydroxyl groups promote adhesion to polar substrates. 

Amino and Phenolic Resins. The largest use of formaldehyde is in the manufacture of urea—formaldehyde, phenol—formaldehyde, and melamine—formaldehyde resins, accounting for over one-half (51%) of the total demand (115). These resins find use as adhesives for binding wood products that comprise particle board, fiber board, and plywood. Plywood is the largest market for phenol—formaldehyde resins particle board is the largest for urea—formaldehyde resins. Under certain conditions, urea—formaldehyde resins may release formaldehyde that has been alleged to create health or environmental problems (see Amino RESINS AND PLASTICS). 

Poly(vinyl alcohol) is employed as a modifier of thermosetting resins used as adhesives in plywood and particle board manufacture (314,315). The polymer is added to urea-formaldehyde or urea—melamine—formaldehyde resins to improve initial grab, to increase viscosity, and, in general, to improve the characteristics of the board. 

A range of acetoacetylated lesins has been intioduced (68,69). The acetoacetoxy functionahty can be cioss-linked with melamine—formaldehyde resins, isocyanates, polyacrylates, and polyamines. There is particular interest for possible corrosion protection on steel because the acetoacetoxy group can form coordination compounds (qv) with iron, perhaps enhancing the adhesion to steel surfaces (see Chelating agents). 

By far the bulk of amino resins are used in the woodworking industry for the manufacture of chipboard, plywood and as general glues and adhesives. Melamine-formaldehyde is an important component of decorative laminates. The amount of amino resins used for moulding applications is only of the order of 5% of the total. 

Melamine (I,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-triazine) was first prepared by Liebig in 1835. For a hundred years the material remained no more than a laboratory curiosity until Henkel patented the production of resins by condensation with formaldehyde. Today large quantities of melamine-formaldehyde resins are used in the manufacture of moulding compositions, laminates, adhesives, surface coatings and other applications. Although in many respects superior in properties to the urea-based resins they are also significantly more expensive. 

Uses of Urea. The major use of urea is the fertilizer field, which accounts for approximately 80% of its production (about 16.2 billion pounds were produced during 1994 in U.S.). About 10% of urea is used for the production of adhesives and plastics (urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde resins). Animal feed accounts for about 5% of the urea produced. 

A cement slurry additive consisting of methylcellulose, melamine-formaldehyde resin, and trioxane has been proposed for better bonding of cement to the casing string [20]. Bisphenol-A epoxide resins, with amine-based curing agents, sand filler, and a mixture of n-butanol and dimethyl benzene as a diluent, have been proposed as additives to increase adhesion properties of cement [572]. 

Urea- and melamine-formaldehyde resins are used as moldings, lacquers, and adhesives (for wood), also as textile additives (increased crease resistance) and paper additives (improved wet strength). 

Another use of urea is for resins, which are used in numerous applications including plastics, adhesives, moldings, laminates, plywood, particleboard, textiles, and coatings. Resins are organic liquid substances exuded from plants that harden on exposure to air. The term now includes numerous synthetically produced resins. Urea resins are thermosetting, which means they harden when heated, often with the aid of a catalyst. The polymerization of urea and formaldehyde produces urea-formaldehyde resins, which is the second most abundant use of urea. Urea is dehydrated to melamine, which, when combined with formaldehyde, produces melamine-formaldehyde resins (Figure 96.2). Melamine resins tend to be harder and more heat-resistant than urea-formaldehyde resins. Melamine received widespread attention as the primary pet food and animal feed contaminant causing numerous cat and dog deaths in early... 

The most widely used wood panel products are particleboard, softwood plywood, hardwood plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and waferboard. The most common adhesive is urea-formaldehyde resin (UFR). Phenol-formaldehyde resins (PFR) are second in volume and melamine-formaldehyde resins (MFR) are a distant third. Recently,... 

Polycondensation adhesives (usually for industrial application) on the basis of phenol, resorcinol, urea and melamine formaldehyde resins. For the processing of such adhesives used, in particular, for wood constructions in moisture-loaded buildings, such as swimming pools, heatable presses are required. 

Note As this table shows, the largest outlet for amino resins by far is their use as adhesives or binders for reconstituted wood products made from sawdust and wood chips. Urea-formaldehyde resin is most commonly used. Melamine-formaldehyde resin can provide improved water resistance and may be combined with the urea resin to provide an improved product. Molding compounds are about the next most important outlet for amino resins. It is approximately evenly divided between urea and melamine. The primary use for urea moldings is in the electrical field, while the most important area for molded melamine plastic is dinnerware. 

Urecdll . [BASF AG] Urea-formaldehyde or melamine-formaldehyde resins for prod, of adhesives for paper processing, binders for granular materials, fiber webs, shoe cap materials, for pj >ermaking. 

Phosphoric acid, or more commoifly ammonium chloride, is used as a hardener for UF resin adhesives. Ammonium chloride reacts with formaldehyde to produce hexamine and hydrochloric acid, and the latter catalyzes the curing of the resin. In the manufacture of plywood a resin (with U/F molar ratio typically 1 1.8) mixed with hardener is applied to wood veneers, which are then plied together and pressed at 95-110°C under a pressure of 200-800 psi (1.38-5.52 MPa). The UF resin-bonded plywood is suitable for indoor applications but is generally unsuitable for outdoor use. For outdoor applications phenol-formaldehyde, resorcinol-formaldehyde, or melamine-formaldehyde resins are more suitable. 

Melamine-formaldehyde resin adhesives (American Cyanamid Corp.)... 

The presence of numerous hydroxyl groups able to react with formaldehyde makes starch-derived products suitable chemicals for formaldehyde-based resins. Research on this subject started many years ago and showed that in a number of applications it is possible to partially replace or extend urea formaldehyde, phenol formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde resins without significantly affecting the finished product s performance. In many applications, adhesive systems based on formaldehyde resins incorporate a polysaccharide component. More than 4.5 Mio mto of formaldehyde-based resins have been produced in Western Europe alone. The use of carbohydrates allows lower consumption of oil-based resins and, consequently, reduced release of formaldehyde in the environment. 

Chem. Descrip. Hexamethoxymethyl melamine formaldehyde resin Uses Gloss aid, adhesion aid for high quality baking finishes Features Provides high film build... 

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