Melamine other aldehyde condensations

In far too many instances trade-name polymer nomenclature conveys very little meaning regarding the structure of a polymer. Many condensation polymers, in fact, seem not to have names. Thus the polymer obtained by the step polymerization of formaldehyde and phenol is variously referred to a phenol-formaldehyde polymer, phenol-formaldehyde resin, phenolic, phenolic resin, and phenoplast. Polymers of formaldehyde or other aldehydes with urea or melamine are generally referred to as amino resins or aminoplasts without any more specific names. It is often extremely difficult to determine which aldehyde and which amino monomers have been used to synthesize a particular polymer being referred to as an amino resin. More specific nomenclature, if it can be called that, is afforded by indicating the two reactants as in names such as urea-formaldehyde resin or melamine-formaldehyde resin. 

C3N3(NH2)3) a white solid organic compound whose molecules consist of a six-membered heterocyclic ring of alternate carbon and nitrogen atoms with three amino groups attached to the carbons. Condensation polymerization with methanal or other aldehydes produces melamine resins, which are important thermosetting plastics. 

Other aldehydes reported to condense with melamine are furfural [74], terephthalic aldehyde [74], cinnamaldehyde [74], cyclohexane, carboxalde-hyde [74], buten-2-al [75], and butyraldehyde [75]. 

This volume continues in the tradition of Volume I in presenting detailed laboratory instructions for the preparation of various types of polymers such as urea, melamine, benzoguanamine/aldehyde resins (amino resins-amino-plasts), phenol/aldehyde condensates, epoxy resins, silicone resins, alkyd resins, polyacetyls/polyvinyl acetals, polyvinyl ethers, polyvinyl pyrroli-dones, polyacrylic acids, and polyvinyl chloride. Polyvinyl acetate and related vinyl esters, allyl polymers, acetylene polymers, maleate and fumarate polymers, and several other addition-condensation polymer types will be covered at a later date in Volume III. 

---