Melamine-formaldehyde properties

Melamine—Formaldehyde Resins. The most versatile textile-finishing resins are the melamine—formaldehyde resins. They provide wash-and-wear properties to ceUulosic fabrics, and enhance the wash durabiHty of flame-retardant finishes. Butylated melamine —formaldehyde resins of the type used in surface coatings may be used in textile printing-ink formulations. A typical textile melamine resin is the dimethyl ether of trimethylolmelamine [1852-22-8] which can be prepared as follows ... 

Amino resins are lighter in color and have better tensile strength and hardness than phenoHc resins their impact strength and heat and water resistance are less than those of phenoHcs. The melamine—formaldehyde resins are harder and have better heat and moisture resistance than the urea resins, but they are also more expensive. The physical properties of the melamine—formaldehyde laminates are Hsted in Table 1. 

Table 24.1 Properties of mouldings prepared from urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde mouldings compositions (Testing according to BS 2782)...

Property Units Urea-formaldehyde Melamine-formaldehyde Melamine- phenolic GP phenolic... 

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. 

Glass-reinforced melamine-formaldehyde laminates are valuable because of their good heat resistance (they can be used at temperatures up to 200°C) coupled with good electrical insulation properties including resistance to tracking. 

The two amino resins in common use are urea formaldehyde and melamine formaldehyde, and most stoving finishes contain one or the other. They have many properties in common urea formaldehyde, however, while substantially cheaper, has poor exterior durability, whereas melamine formaldehyde imparts excellent exterior durability. As they are both water white they give white finishes of excellent colour, with the additional advantage of retaining their colour on over-stoving. Urea formaldehyde is commonly used in conjunction with a lesser quantity of an alkyd to give finishes with excellent resistance to water and mild chemicals, which are therefore well suited to use on domestic equipment, e.g. washing machines. 

Good quality steel is used and electrozinc is preferred for washing machines. Steel is pretreated with iron phosphate for economy electrozinc with a fine crystal zinc phosphate. No primer is normally used 25-40/im of finish is applied direct to metal. The required properties are best obtained with a thermosetting acrylic or polyester/melamine-formaldehyde finish. Self-reactive acrylics are usually preferred these resins contain about 15 Vo 7V-butoxymethyl acrylamide (CH2=CH —CO —NH —CHj—O —C4H,) monomer and cure in a manner similar to butylated melamine-formaldehyde resins. Resistance or anti-corrosive properties may be upgraded by the inclusion of small amounts of epoxy resin. Application is usually by electrostatic spray application from disc or bell. Shapes are complex enough to require convected hot-air curing. Schedules of 20 min at 150-175°C are... 

Amino (melamine and urea) Melamine formaldehyde (MF) have excellent electrical properties, heat and moisture resistance, abrasion resistance (good for dinnerware and buttons) in high-pressure laminates it is resistant to alkalies and detergents. They are used as the plastic for counter tops. Urea (urea formaldehyde) has properties similar to melamine and is used for wall switch plates, light-colored appliance hardware, buttons, toilet seats, and cosmetics containers. Unlike MFs they are translucent, giving them a brightness and depth of color somewhat similar to opal glass. 

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]. 

Korai (2001) also considered the importance of density profile of composites made from acetylated fibres in determining mechanical properties. Fibres of yellow cedar were acetylated with vapour-phase acetic anhydride and fibreboards were made from these, bonded with melamine formaldehyde resin. The results from this study indicated that bonding between fibres was the most important property determining mechanical properties. 

Lukowsky, D. (2002). Influence of the formaldehyde content of waterbased melamine formaldehyde resins on physical properties of Scots pine impregnated therewith. Holz als Roh- und Werkstoff, 60(5), 349-355. 

Together, antifreeze, PET, and polyester polymers account for about 98% of the ethylene glycol produced in the United States. It is also used sometimes as a deicer for aircraft surfaces. The two hydroxyl groups in the EG molecule also make EG suitable for the manufacture of surfactants and in latex paints. Other applications include hydraulic brake fluid, the manufacture of alkyd resins for surface coatings, and stabilizers for water dispersions of urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde The hygroscopic properties (absorbs moisture from the air) make EG useful as a humectant for textile fibers, paper, leather, and adhesives treatment. 

Addition of glycerol, phthalic anhydride and butylated melamine formaldehyde resins is sometimes found to improve the thermosetting properties of silicone resins. Methylsilyl triacetate has the same effect in certain cases. Some silicone resins can be advantageously modified by the addition of polyvinyl acetyl resins or nitroparaffins. 

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