Melamine salts as hardeners for urea formaldehyde resins

Abstract

AbstractVarious salts derived from melamine and organic acids were prepared and used as melamine substitutes for melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) resins. The synthesis of these melamine salts and a detailed characterization of their stoichiometry are described. All salts form 1 : 1 or 1 : 2 stoichiometries in a homogeneous reaction. They crystallize during cooling of the hot and diluted reaction mixture. Both 13C–NMR and 15N–NMR data are reported and point toward the formation of real ionic structures. Most salts have higher water solubility than that of pure melamine and are tested for their ability to substitute melamine in MUF resins. The mechanical and chemical properties of plywood panels made up of traditional MUF resins and mixtures of UF resins with melamine salts are investigated. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 1654–1661, 2001