Thermosetting plastics urea-melamine resins

Thermoset composite systems of phenol and formaldehyde, some of which can he substituted for a number of structural applications can also be considered as engineering plastics and they have been in use for a very long time. In recent applications, improved urea - melamine resins have been used as matrices more and more for composite systems, because of their non-melting, high thermal and chemical resistances, hardnesses, mechanical-dimensional stabilities and low flammabilities. 

Amino resins are thermosetting polymers made by combining an aldehyde with a compound containing an amino (—NH2) group. Urea—formaldehyde (U/F) accounts for over 80% of amino resins melamine—formaldehyde accounts for most of the rest. Other aldehydes and other amino compounds are used to a very minor extent. The first commercially important amino resin appeared about 1930, or some 20 years after the introduction of phenol—formaldehyde resins and plastics (see Phenolic resins). 

The thermoplastic or thermoset nature of the resin in the colorant—resin matrix is also important. For thermoplastics, the polymerisation reaction is completed, the materials are processed at or close to their melting points, and scrap may be reground and remolded, eg, polyethylene, propjiene, poly(vinyl chloride), acetal resins (qv), acryhcs, ABS, nylons, ceUulosics, and polystyrene (see Olefin polymers Vinyl polymers Acrylic ester polymers Polyamides Cellulose ESTERS Styrene polymers). In the case of thermoset resins, the chemical reaction is only partially complete when the colorants are added and is concluded when the resin is molded. The result is a nonmeltable cross-linked resin that caimot be reworked, eg, epoxy resins (qv), urea—formaldehyde, melamine—formaldehyde, phenoHcs, and thermoset polyesters (qv) (see Amino resins and plastics Phenolic resins). 

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... 

UREA-FORMALDEHYDE RESIN. An important class of amino resin. Urea and formaldehyde are united in a two-stage process in the presence of pyridine, ammonia, or certain alcohols with heat and control of pH to form intermediates (methylolurea, dimenthylolurea) that are mixed with fillers to produce molding powders. These are converted to thermosetting resins by further controlled heating and pressure in the presence of catalysts. These were first plastics that could be made in white, pastel, and colored products. See also Amino Acids Melamine. 

The classic thermosets, such as ebonite, phenolics, ureas, melamines and polyesters as well as the epoxies, when reinforced with fiberglass or graphite fibers could also be classified as high performance thermosets. While these plastics cannot be readily extruded or injection molded, they are resistant to the effects of moderately high hostile environments. Phenolic resin mortars have been used for over a half century for the construction of chemical resistant vessels and for joining brick and tile used as linings in hot acid environments. (1.)... 

Bonding of thermoset plastic materials Due to their insolubility, thermoset plastic materials (e.g., items made of Bakelite, expoxy resin, boards with melamine urea coatings) are not bondable by surface dissolving with solvent-containing adhesives. 

Melamine is a strong organic base, which is used primarily to produce melamine resin, which when combined with formaldehyde produces a very durable thermoset plastic. This plastic is often used in kitchen utensils or plates (often sold under the brand name Melmac), and is the main constituent of Formica and Arborite . Melamine tile wall panels are known as whiteboards. Melamine is also used to make decorative wall panels and is often used as a laminate. Melamine is produced from urea, mainly by either of two methods catalyzed gas-phase production or high-pressure liquid-phase production. 

The major thermosetting plastics, in order of decreasing market volume, are polyurethanes, phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, and polyesters. More specialized thermosets include melamine-formaldehyde, furans, vinyl esters, aUyls, epoxy resins, silicones, and polyimides. While they may sometimes compete with each other and with thermoplastics, for the most part, each of them has unique properties and fills unique markets and applications. 

Urea-Formaldehyde. Urea-formaldehyde resins are one of the oldest families of commercial plastics with a U.S. market volume of 3 billion Ib/yr, they are the third largest thermosetting resin. Urea and melamine have similar polymer chemistry, so they are often... 

Uses Plasticizer for thermoplastic and thermoset resins imparls gloss and wetting to melamine, urea and phenolic resins increases hardness of urea resin moldings increases stability and compat. of melamine resins improves flow of pheno-lics increases flexibility in nylons in adhesives for food pkg. 

Ammonia is used in the fibers and plastic industry as the source of nitrogen for the production of caprolactam, the monomer for nylon 6. Oxidation of propylene with ammonia gives acrylonitrile (qv), used for the manufacture of acryHc fibers, resins, and elastomers. Hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), produced from ammonia and formaldehyde, is used in the manufacture of phenoHc thermosetting resins (see Phenolic resins). Toluene 2,4-cHisocyanate (TDI), employed in the production of polyurethane foam, indirectly consumes ammonia because nitric acid is a raw material in the TDI manufacturing process (see Amines Isocyanates). Urea, which is produced from ammonia, is used in the manufacture of urea—formaldehyde synthetic resins (see Amino resins). Melamine is produced by polymerization of dicyanodiamine and high pressure, high temperature pyrolysis of urea, both in the presence of ammonia (see Cyanamides). 

This group includes many plastics produced by condensation polymerization. Among the important thermosets are the polyurethanes, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, and urea and melamine formaldehyde resins. 

This chapter will deal with the chemistry and applications of epoxies, phenolics, urethanes, and a variety of current vogue high-temperature polymers. Applications in fiber-reinforced plastics will be discussed in the individual sections on resin chemistry where appropriate. Separate sections will deal with adhesives and sealants. Adhesives are most important because, as early history demonstrates, they led the way to the application of resins in aerospace. A section is also included on silicone and polysulfide sealants. Although these materials are elastomers rather than resins, no discussion of aerospace polymers would be complete without some mention. Some major thermosetting polymers have been omitted from this review. Among these are the unsaturated polyesters, melamines, ureas, and the vinyl esters. Although these products do find their way into aerospace applications, the uses are so small that a detailed discussion is not warranted. 

For a general introduction, see Wood adhesives - basics. Aminoplastic resins are polycondensation products of the reaction of aldehydes with compounds carrying amine or amide groups. Formaldehyde is by far the primary aldehyde used. The name amino-plastic is traditional, but is a misnomer these are thermosetting, irreversibly hardening resins. Two main classes of these resins exist urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins and melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resins. Today, for wood adhesives, pure MF resins are not used anymore because of cost, and only melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) adhesives are used. The main use of these resins is in composite products such as particle board, plywood, medium density fibreboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB), glu-lam/flngerjointing and furniture. 

China clay is a widely used white filler in the rubber industry. Depending on particle size, it can be used as a semi-reinforcing filler (hard clay) or a non-reinforcing filler (soft clay) in such applications as chemical liners, bicycle tyres, conveyor belts, shoe soles, gaskets and flooring. Its use in plastics is much more limited. In thermoplastics it is used for speciality antiblocking, in thermosets it is used in urea-, phenol- and melamine formaldehyde, in unsaturated polyesters, and in epoxy resins. 

Uniplex 150 is an excellent general purpose plasticizer that is conqpatible with cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, ethyl cellulose, polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polyvinyl butyral, vinyl chloride, and vinyl chloride acetate. It also is an excellent plasticizer for thermosetting resins such as urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, phenolics, and others. 

Chem. Descrip. o-Toluene sulfonamide p-toluenesulfonamide Uses Plasticizer, gloss aid, wetting agent for thermosetting resins (melamine, urea, phenolics), nylon, casein, PVAc, food pkg., adhesives Regulatory FDA approved for food pkg. applies. 

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