Urea/formaldehyde polymer

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 smoking salons of the Hindenburg and other hydrogen-filled dirigibles of Ihe 1930s were insulated with urea-formaldehyde polymer foams. The structure of this polymer is highly cross-linked, like that of Bakelite (Section 31.5). Propose a structure. 

When crosslinked, amino resins are very resistant to most organic solvents, though they tend to be attacked by both acids and alkalis. Urea-formaldehyde polymers are more susceptible to attack than those prepared from melamine and formaldehyde. 

Plywood contains approximately 30% binder, which is a urea-formaldehyde polymer. Indicate the reactions and steps in its synthesis from natural gas and water (and trees). Approximately how many SCF of natural gas go into a 4x 8 sheet of 3/4-in. plywood ... 

First step (a) represents the initial system - solution of the poly(acrylic acid) (urea and formaldehyde are not shown). Then, growing macromolecules of urea-formaldehyde polymer recognize matrix molecules and associate with them forming polycomplex. This process leads to physical network formation and gelation of the system (step b). Further process is accompanied by polycomplex formation to the total saturation of the template molecules by the urea-formaldehyde polymer (step c). Chemical crosslinking makes the polycomplex insoluble and non-separable into the components. In the final step (c), fibrilar structure can be formed by further polycondensation of excess of urea and formaldehyde. 

Properties of composites obtained by template poly condensation of urea and formaldehyde in the presence of poly(acrylic acid) were described by Papisov et al. Products of template polycondensation obtained for 1 1 ratio of template to monomers are typical glasses, but elastic deformation up to 50% at 90°C is quite remarkable. This behavior is quite different from composites polyacrylic acid-urea-formaldehyde polymer obtained by conventional methods. Introduction of polyacrylic acid to the reacting system of urea-formaldehyde, even in a very small quantity (2-5%) leads to fibrilization of the product structure. Materials obtained have a high compressive strength (30-100 kg/cm ). Further polycondensation of the excess of urea and formaldehyde results in fibrillar structure composites. Structure and properties of such composites can be widely varied by changes in initial composition and reaction conditions. 

The urea-formaldehyde polymer is formed by a multi-step reaction process between urea and formaldehyde. The initial phase is a methylolation of the urea under slightly alkaline conditions with a formaldehyde-urea (F/U) molar ratio of 2.0 1 to 2.4 1. Condensation of the methylolureas from the methylolat ion reaction is at atmospheric reflux with a pH of 4 to 6. This condensation polymerization continues to a pre-determined viscosity, at which time the pH is adjusted with a suitable base to 7-3 to 8.0. The adhesive is then concentrated to a total solids content of 50 to 60 percent by vacuum distillation. Additional urea is then normally added to produce a final F/U molar ratio of 1.6 1 to 1.8 1. 

The disadvantages of the urea-formaldehyde adhesives lie in their lack of durability and in their characteristic pungent formaldehyde odor. For particleboard applications subject to high temperature and moisture exposure, phenol-formaldehyde adhesives are required, since the urea-formaldehyde polymer is hydrolyzable and hydrolysis is enhanced with moisture and heat. 

Urea resins (urea formaldehyde polymers) are formed by the reaction of urea with formaldehyde (Fig. 1). Monomethylolurea (HOH2CNHCONH2) and dimethylolurea ((HOH2CNHCONHCH2OH) are formed first under alkaline conditions. Continued reaction under acidic conditions gives a fairly linear, low-molecular-weight intermediate polymer. 

It should be noted that very high specific surfaces (S 3(K) m /g) have als) been reported for some microporous (non-foamed) RO systems, including urea-formaldehyde polymers ... 

Use Wetting agent, furan polymers, corrosion-resistant sealants and cements, foundry cores, modified urea-formaldehyde polymers, penetrant, solvent for dyes and resins, flavoring. The polymer is used as a mortar for bonding acid-proof brick and chemical masonry. 

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