Polymers, formaldehyde

In practice, synthetic polymers are sometimes divided into two classes, thermosetting and thermo-plMtic. Those polymers which in their original condition will fiow and can be moulded by heat and pressime, but which in their finished or cured state cannot be re softened or moulded are known as thermo setting (examples phenol formaldehyde or urea formaldehyde polymer). Thermoplastic polymers can be resoftened and remoulded by heat (examples ethylene polymers and polymers of acrylic esters). 

Urea - formaldehyde polymers. Formalin and urea (usually in the molecular proportions of 3 2) condense in the presence of ammonia, pyridine or hexamine to give urea - formaldehyde polymers, known commercially as Bedle or Plaskon, and are widely used as moulding powdens. It is believed that the intermediate products in the condensation are methylol-urea and dimethylol-urea ... 

Melamine - formaldehyde polymers. Melamine (2 4 6-triamino-1 3 5-triazine), obtained by heating dicyandiamide under pressure, condenses with formalin to give melamine - formaldehyde polymers (Beetle - Melamine), which have similar uses, but better stability to heat... 

Formaldehyde polymers have been known for some time (1) and early investigations of formaldehyde polymerization contributed significantly to the development of several basic concepts of polymer science (2). Polymers of higher aUphatic homologues of formaldehyde are also well known (3) and frequently referred to as aldehyde polymers (4). Some have curious properties, but none are commercially important. 

Aqueous formaldehyde, known as formalin, is usually 37 wt % formaldehyde, though more concentrated solutions are available. Formalin is the general-purpose formaldehyde of commerce suppHed unstabiLized or methanol-stabilized. The latter may be stored at room temperature without precipitation of soHd formaldehyde polymers because it contains 5 —10% methyl alcohol. The uiiinhibited type must be maintained at a temperature of at least 32°C to prevent the separation of soHd formaldehyde polymers. Large quantities are often suppHed in more concentrated solutions. Formalin at 44,... 

Polymers. Quinoline and its derivatives may be added to or incorporated in polymers to introduce ion-exchange properties (see Ion exchange). For example, phenol—formaldehyde polymers have been treated with quinoline, quinaldine, or lepidine (81) (see Phenolic resins). Resins with variable basic exchange capacities have been prepared by treating Amherlites with 2-methylquinoline (82). 

D,L-Mannitol has been obtained by sodium amalgam reduction of D,L-mannose. The identical hexitol is formed from the formaldehyde polymer, acrose, by conversion through its osazone and osone to D,L-fmctose (a-acrose) followed by reduction (83). 

In the manufacture of pure resorcinol resins, the reaction can be violently exothermic unless controlled by the addition of alcohols. Because the alcohols perform other useful functions in the glue mix, they are left in the liquid adhesive. PRF adhesives are generally prepared firstly by reaction of phenol with formaldehyde to form a PF resol polymer, that has been proved to be in the greatest percentage, and often completely, linear [95], In the reaction step that follows the resorcinol chemical is added in excess to the PF-resol to react it with the PF-resin -CH2OH groups to form PRF polymers in which the resorcinol groups can be resorcinol chemical or any type of resorcinol-formaldehyde polymer. 

The smoking salons of the Hindenburg and other hydrogen-filled dirigibles of Ihe 1930s were insulated with urea-formaldehyde polymer foams. The structure of this polymer is highly cross-linked, like that of Bakelite (Section 31.5). Propose a structure. 

Polymerized Formic Aldehyde. See Vol 6, F164-L to F16S-L under Formaldehyde Polymers ... 

Cured phenol-formaldehydes are resistant to attack by most chemicals. Organic solvents and water have no effect on them, though they will swell in boiling phenols. Simple resins are readily attacked by sodium hydroxide solutions, but resins based on phenol derivatives, such as cresol, tend to be less affected by such solutions. Simple phenol-formaldehyde polymers are resistant to most acids, though formic and nitric acids will tend to attack them. Again, cresol-based polymers have resistance to such attack. 

Unlike phenol-formaldehyde polymers, the amino resins are not themselves deeply coloured, but are of a naturally light appearance. They can be easily pigmented to give a variety of shades, which leads to application in uses where good appearance is highly valued, for example in decorative tableware, laminated resins for furniture, and modem white electrical plugs and sockets. 

When crosslinked, amino resins are very resistant to most organic solvents, though they tend to be attacked by both acids and alkalis. Urea-formaldehyde polymers are more susceptible to attack than those prepared from melamine and formaldehyde. 

RN 99732-49-7 MF C4oHsoNO,P C,6Hj40 [C,4H220 C2H4O CHzOlx MW unspecified CN (/ )-A(,A/,Al-trimethyl-10-oxo-7-[( 1 -oxohexadecyl)oxy]-3,5,9-trioxa-4-phosphapentacosan-1 -aminium-4-oxide inner salt, mixt. with formaldehyde polymer with oxirane and 4-(l, 1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenol and 1-hexadecanol... 

RN 25301-02-4 MF [C,4H220 C2H4O CH20]x MW unspecified CN formaldehyde polymer with oxirane and 4-(l, l,3,3-tetrameihylbutyl)phenol... 

If the polymer is hard, insoluble, and infusible without decomposition, and if it refuses to swell greatly in any solvent, it may be assumed either that it is highly crystalline, with a melting point above its decomposition temperature, or that it possesses a closely interconnected network structure (e.g., as in a highly reacted glyceryl phthalate or a phenol-formaldehyde polymer). Differentiation between these possibilities is feasible on the basis of X-ray diffraction. 

Phenol-formaldehyde polymer modified with ethylene carbonate WiO [1680]... 

BF3.OH2).217 The use of a sulfonated phenol-formaldehyde polymer in conjunction with formic acid is also reported.208 Acids that are ineffective include phosphoric,208 trichloroacetic, dichloroacetic, and acetic acids.134 It is reported that addition of lithium perchlorate to the reaction mixture improves product... 

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