Urea-formaldehyde polymers properties

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. 

Together, antifreeze, PET, and polyester polymers account for about 98% of the ethylene glycol produced in the United States. It is also used sometimes as a deicer for aircraft surfaces. The two hydroxyl groups in the EG molecule also make EG suitable for the manufacture of surfactants and in latex paints. Other applications include hydraulic brake fluid, the manufacture of alkyd resins for surface coatings, and stabilizers for water dispersions of urea-formaldehyde and melamine-formaldehyde The hygroscopic properties (absorbs moisture from the air) make EG useful as a humectant for textile fibers, paper, leather, and adhesives treatment. 

Oligophenylethoxysiloxanes are used as modifiers for various polymers to improve their weather resistance and other technical characteristics, as well as to increase the heat resistance of coatings. E.g., PES-50 is used to modify polyethers, aciylic and epoxy polymers PES-80 is used to modify alkyd and urea-formaldehyde resins. Besides, PES-80 is used as an additive in paints and enamels (to improve their flow properties, gloss and colour), as well as in concrete mixes (to improve the water resistance and durability of concrete works). 

While catalysts are also used in the production of other types of polymers, the properties of most of these materials are not particularly dependent on the type of catalyst employed. Many poly condensation reactions, e. g. the formation of polyesters, polyamides or urea-formaldehyde resins, are speeded up by addition of some Bronsted or Lewis acids. Since relevant properties of these polymer products, such as their average chain lengths, are controlled by equilibrium parameters, primarily by the reaction temperatures and molar ratios of the monomers employed, and since their linkage patterns are dictated by the functional groups involved, addition of a catalyst has little leverage on the properties of the resulting polymer materials. 

Bliznakov, E.D., White, C.C., and Shaw, M.T. (2000). Mechanical properties of blends of HDPE and recycled urea-formaldehyde resin. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 77,3220-3227. 

Another example of the improvement of properties of condensation polymers through copolymerization is illustrated by recent work with urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. The preponderance of wood adhesive... 

In Chapter 2 we indicated that the formation of a polymer requires that the functionality of the reacting monomer(s) must be at least 2. Where the functionality of one of the monomers is greater than 2, then a cross-linked polymer is formed. Thermosets like phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, and epoxy resins develop their characteristic properties through cross-linking. In this section our discussion is confined to those polymeric systems designed with latent cross-linkability that under appropriate conditions can be activated to produce a polymer with desirable properties. 

Among those plastics which are commercially produced in cellular form are polyurethane, PVC, polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, epoxy, phenol-formaldehyde, urea-formaldehyde, ABS, cellulose acetate, styrene-acrylonitrile, silicone, and ionomers. However, note that it is possible today to produce virtually every thermoplastic and thermoset material in cellular form. In general, the basic properties of the respective polymers are present in the cellular products except, of course, those changed by conversion to the cellular form. 

The urea-formaldehydes (UFs) are the most important and most used class of amino resin adhesives. Amino resins are polymeric condensation products of the reaction of aldehydes with compounds carrying aminic or amidic groups. Formaldehyde is by far the primary aldehyde used. The advantage of UF adhesives are their (1) initial water solubility (this renders them eminently suitable for bulk and relatively inexpensive production), (2) hardness, (3) nonflammability, (4) good thermal properties, (5) absence of color in cured polymers, and (6) easy adaptability to a variety of curing conditions [1,2]. 

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