Urea formaldehyde foam industry

The fate of the urea formaldehyde foam industry is a classic example of the power of public reaction. Urea formaldehyde foam insulation which was not installed properly emitted formaldehyde fumes which caused discomfort and, in some cases, allergic reactions. Formaldehyde also was identified as a suspect carcinogen. The product became unmarketable long... 

Staff written, "The Screws Are Off Urea Formaldehyde Foam," Industry and Market News, Modern Plastics, 60 (6) 136, 138 (June 1983). 

Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical for the production of synthetic resins. These resins are applied primarily as adhesives in the production of a large number of consumer products and construction materials that end up in homes. Other sources of indoor formaldehyde include urea-formaldehyde foam insulation, textile additives, as well as combustion and tobacco smoke. Formaldehyde is one of the many VOCs present indoors and it is considered the most abundant among them. It has important toxic effects in the 0.1-5 ppm concentration range. 

Formaldehyde (CH2O) release was measured for seven types of consumer products pressed wood, urea formaldehyde foam materials, clothes, insulation, paper, fabric, and carpet. A modified Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) desiccator test was used to measure release rate coefficients and to rank 53 products. Ten pressed wood products and five urea formaldehyde foam products showed the highest CH2O releases (1-34 mg m 2.day"b The remainder, representing all product types, had lower releases ranging from 680 yg m 2.day to nondetectable levels. In other studies, CH2O release was measured in a ventilated chamber for single samples of particle board, plywood, insulation, and carpet. 

During the past decade, urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde resin binders have contributed greatly to the progress of wood industries. Formaldehyde is widely used as a major component in the production of building materials, such as particleboard and plywood, and in urea formaldehyde foam insulation. However, the emissions of formaldehyde from these products create considerable concerns not only in the working environments but also in residences, mobile homes, and office buildings. These concerns have also been stimulated by reports on the health effects and carcinogenicity associated with formaldehyde exposure. 

Formaldehyde is also released from aminoplasts and their derivatives, such as urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI), wood adhesives, and textile finishing agents. It is this supplemental, industrial source of formaldehyde that has become the subject of risk analysis. Should we allow products that serve our daily comfort to alter our environment by releasing an irritating vapor with a pungent odor ... 

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). 

L. Guricza, HungP 153950(1967) CA 67, 110247b(1967) [Industrial expls of low bulk density were prepd by mixing usual AN expls with 2—15% by wt of plastic foam (such as urea-formaldehyde, polystyrene or polyurethane of 10-50kg/m3 bulk density). 

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