Urea Formaldehydes

Like melamine-formaldehyde resins, these amino resins are hard, rigid, abrasion-resistant materials. They have excellent dimensional stability and good solvent and creep resistance. They are selfextinguishing and have superior electrical properties. They are noted for high impact strength and resistance to water and solvents. Only cellulose-filled resins are available. The following surface preparation method is used  

Rinse with tap water, then deionized water 

Adhesives recommended are epoxies, nitrile-phenolic, phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, resorcinol-formaldehyde, furane, polyester, butadiene-nitrile rubber, neoprene, cyanoacrylates, and phenolic-polyvinyl butyral. 

Adhesives that bond well to the base resin can be used to bond plastics reinforced with such materials as glass fibers or synthetic high-strength fibers. 

Reinforced thermoplastics can also be solvent cemented to themselves or joined to other thermoplastics using a compatible solvent cement. For reinforced thermosets, in general, the adhesives recommended above for thermosetting plastics apply. 

On further addition of urea and HCHO, H(NHCO—NH—CH2) —OH is formed. With an acid catalyst, it is possible to produce a foam product known as urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) having a thermal conductivity, K, of about 0.022 Wm K .  

In 1977 the Canadian goverrmient subsidized the introduction of UFFT in older homes to conserve energy. The UFFI proved to be unstable in some cases due to improper installation, and as a result formaldehyde levels in some homes exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.10 ppm (120 (ig/m ). Ammonia was able to neutralize the acid, and it was also shown that the water-soluble polymeric amine, polyethyleneimine, could remove the liberated formaldehyde. Nmietheless, the Canadian government then paid the homeowners an estimated 272 million ( 5,000 to 57,700 homes) to remove the UFFI. The urea formaldehyde resin is commonly used as the adhesive resins in plywood and particle board and will initially release formaldehyde if not sealed. As more composite wood products find their way into buildings, greater concern about indoor air is warranted. 

This resin produces mouldings which are resistant to common solvents but are attacked by strong acids. This resin is slightly less resistant to water than phenol-formaldehyde. The impact strength of urea-formaldehyde resins depend on the type of filler used. Frequently, bleached wood pulp is used as a filler. The main interest to the food industry is again that of container closures and in the domestic field they are used as casings for domestic food mixers. 

Phenolic Adhesives recommended are neoprene and urethane elastomer, epoxy and modified epoxy, phenolic-polyvinyl butyral, nitrile-phenolic, polyester, cyanoacrylates, polyurethanes, resorcinols, modified acrylics, polyvinyl acetate, and urea-formaldehyde (1). 

Silicone Silicone resins are generally bonded with silicone adhesives, either silicone rubber or silicone resin (1). 

Syntactic Foams Adhesives should be selected based on the resin matrix, which is usually epoxy or phenolic (18). 

and Skeist, I., Chapter 41, Bonding Plastics, Handbook of Adhesives, 2nd Edition, ed. I. Skeist, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York (1977). 

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Methyl-2-pentanoi b.p. 132 C, a solvent for nitrocellulose, urea-formaldehyde and alkyd resins. It is also used in ore flotation. 

Urea is largely used as a fertilizer (ISy ), and as a non-protein feed supplement for sheep and cattle. The most important chemical use, which however accounts for only a small part of urea production, is in the manufacture of urea-formaldehyde resins. U is also used in the manufacture of adhesives, pharmaceuticals, dyes and various other materials. U.S. production 1981 7 0 megatonnes urea resins 1983 6 megatonnes. 

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 ... 

The reaction of urea with formaldehyde yields the following products, which are used as monomers in the preparation of urea formaldehyde resin. 

The reaction conditions can be varied so that only one of those monomers is formed. 1-Hydroxy-methylurea and l,3-bis(hydroxymethyl)urea condense in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce urea formaldehyde resins. A wide variety of resins can be obtained by careful selection of the pH, reaction temperature, reactant ratio, amino monomer, and degree of polymerization. If the reaction is carried far enough, an infusible polymer network is produced. 

Properties Thermoplastic elastomers Urea formaldehyde, alpha-cellulose filled Vinyl ... 

Some commercially important cross-linked polymers go virtually without names. These are heavily and randomly cross-linked polymers which are insoluble and infusible and therefore widely used in the manufacture of such molded items as automobile and household appliance parts. These materials are called resins and, at best, are named by specifying the monomers which go into their production. Often even this information is sketchy. Examples of this situation are provided by phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde resins, for which typical structures are given by structures [IV] and [V], respectively ... 

Urea is also used as feed supplement for mminants, where it assists in the utilization of protein. Urea is one of the raw materials for urea—formaldehyde resins. Urea (with ammonia) pyrolyzes at high temperature and pressure to form melamine plastics (see also Cyanamides). Urea is used in the preparation of lysine, an amino acid widely used in poultry feed (see Amino acids Feeds and feed additives, petfoods). It also is used in some pesticides. 

The consumption of urea for urea—formaldehyde resins has decreased in recent years because of the new findings about the toxicity of formaldehyde slowly released by the resin. 

During the late 1970s, concerns were raised about levels of airborne formaldehyde in buildings resulting primarily from constmction using composite panels bonded with urea—formaldehyde resins and combined with energy-efficient building practices which reduced air losses. 

Both melamine—formaldehyde (MF) and resorcinol—formaldehyde (RF) foUowed the eadier developments of phenol—, and urea—formaldehyde. Melamine has a more complex stmcture than urea and is also more expensive. Melamine-base resins requite heat to cure, produce colorless gluelines, and are much more water-resistant than urea resins but stiU are not quite waterproof. Because of melamine s similarity to urea, it is often used in fairly small amounts with urea to produce melamine—urea—formaldehyde (MUF) resins. Thus, the improved characteristics of melamine can be combined with the economy of urea to provide an improved adhesive at a moderate increase in cost. The improvement is roughly proportional to the amount of melamine used the range of addition may be from 5 to 35%, with 5—10% most common. 

The primary adhesive used ia hardwood plywood is urea—formaldehyde (UF) mixed with wheat flour as an extender to improve spreadabiUty, reduce penetration, and provide dry-out resistance. A catalyst may also be added to UF resias to speed the cure or to cause the UF to cure. Scavengers also may be added to reduce formaldehyde emissions from finished panels. If more water-resistance is requited using a UF bond, small amounts of melamine maybe added, producing a melamine—urea—formaldehyde (MUF) adhesive. 

One type of thick hardwood plywood stiU available is imported from the northern Scandinavian countries and is generally known as Finnish birch. Characteristically, these plywoods are manufactured using multiple layers of veneer of the same thickness, about 1.5 mm (1 /16 in.), and bonded with a urea—formaldehyde or melamine—urea—formaldehyde adhesive. 

Micropores (generallyfilled with inert gas) hoUow glass beads urea—formaldehyde spheres... 

Vapors emitted from the materials of closed storage and exhibit cases have been a frequent source of pollution problems. Oak wood, which in the past was often used for the constmction of such cases, emits a significant amount of organic acid vapors, including formic and acetic acids, which have caused corrosion of metal objects, as well as shell and mineral specimens in natural history collections. Plywood and particle board, especially those with a urea—formaldehyde adhesive, similarly often emit appreciable amounts of corrosive vapors. Sealing of these materials has proven to be not sufficiently rehable to prevent the problem, and generally thek use for these purposes is not considered acceptable practice. 

Phosphoric Acid-Based Systems for Cellulosics. Semidurable flame-retardant treatments for cotton (qv) or wood (qv) can be attained by phosphorylation of cellulose, preferably in the presence of a nitrogenous compound. Commercial leach-resistant flame-retardant treatments for wood have been developed based on a reaction product of phosphoric acid with urea—formaldehyde and dicyandiamide resins (59,60). 

Urea.—Forma.IdehydeResins. Cellular urea—formaldehyde resins can be prepared in the following manner an aqueous solution containing surfactant and catalyst is made into a low density, fine-celled foam by dispersing air into it mechanically. A second aqueous solution consisting of partially cured urea—formaldehyde resin is then mixed into the foam by mechanical agitation. The catalyst in the initial foam causes the dispersed resin to cure in the cellular state. The resultant hardened foam is dried at elevated temperatures. Densities as low as 8 kg/m can be obtained by this method (117). 

Syntactic Cellular Polymers. Syntactic cellular polymer is produced by dispersing rigid, foamed, microscopic particles in a fluid polymer and then stabilizing the system. The particles are generally spheres or microhalloons of phenoHc resin, urea—formaldehyde resin, glass, or siUca, ranging 30—120 lm dia. Commercial microhalloons have densities of approximately 144 kg/m (9 lbs/fT). The fluid polymers used are the usual coating resins, eg, epoxy resin, polyesters, and urea—formaldehyde resin. 

Fig. 3. Effect of density on compressive modulus of rigid cellular polymers. A, extmded polystyrene (131) B, expanded polystyrene (150) C-1, C-2, polyether polyurethane (151) D, phenol—formaldehyde (150) E, ebonite (150) E, urea—formaldehyde (150) G, poly(vinylchloride) (152). To convert...

Foams prepared from phenol—formaldehyde and urea—formaldehyde resins are the only commercial foams that are significantly affected by water (22). Polyurethane foams exhibit a deterioration of properties when subjected to a combination of light, moisture, and heat aging polyester-based foam shows much less hydrolytic stabUity than polyether-based foam (50,199). 

CeUular urea—formaldehyde and phenoHc resin foams have been used to some extent in interior sound-absorbing panels and, in Europe, expanded polystyrene has been used in the design of sound-absorbing doors (233). In general, cost, dammabUity, and cleaning difficulties have prevented significant penetration of the acoustical tile market. The low percent of redection of sound waves from plastic foam surfaces has led to their use in anechoic chambers (216). 

Mono- and dimethylol derivatives are made by reaction of formaldehyde with unsubstituted amides. Dimethylolurea, an item of commercial importance and an intermediate in urea—formaldehyde resins, is formed in high yield under controlled conditions (62) ... 

Sources of human exposure to formaldehyde are engine exhaust, tobacco smoke, natural gas, fossil fuels, waste incineration, and oil refineries (129). It is found as a natural component in fmits, vegetables, meats, and fish and is a normal body metaboHte (130,131). FaciUties that manufacture or consume formaldehyde must control workers exposure in accordance with the following workplace exposure limits in ppm action level, 0.5 TWA, 0.75 STEL, 2 (132). In other environments such as residences, offices, and schools, levels may reach 0.1 ppm HCHO due to use of particle board and urea—formaldehyde foam insulation in constmction. 

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