Melamine 003

Melamine 108-78-1

DSM

Technically, melamine is a chemical compound (triamino-triazine - C3N6H6), consisting of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. It¡¯s made by taking a readily available raw material ¨C urea (produced from ammonia and carbon dioxide) ¨C and subjecting it to a technologically sophisticated process. The result is a white crystalline powder. This powder is mostly condensed with formaldehyde to produce thermosetting resins, which harden when heated. These resins make products highly resistant to heat and physical or chemical degradation, and enhance the hardness, gloss and scratch-resistance of surfaces. Some melamine is used in crystalline or salt form to make materials and products flame-retardant or moisture-resistant. Melamine enables the creation of hard, glossy surfaces which are durable and hardwearing. Melamine surfaces and products are safe, hygienic, non-allergic and highly resistant to heat, chemicals and moisture. Melamine in glues for wood-based panels contributes to achieving low-emissions targets. The main use of melamine is as a reactive intermediate for the manufacturing of melamine-formaldehyde (MF) and melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resins. Most melamine-based resins are used in decorative surface laminates and in adhesives for the production of water- and moisture-resistant wood-based panels. The wood-based panel industry supplies end-markets such as the construction industry with boards, panels and beams. The majority of these panels are surfaced with durable, hardwearing decorated melamine papers. Panels and laminates are used as kitchen worktops and tabletops, and for furniture, flooring and wall coverings. Wood-based products Melamine plays a vital role in meeting the needs of the furniture, flooring and construction industries. It is an important raw material for impregnating resins for laminates and for making adhesives for wood-based panels. Waterproof melamine adhesives are either used to glue pieces of wood together to form boards and beams, or are mixed with woodchips or sawdust and compressed to form wood-based panels. Wood-based panels and beams greatly improve the efficient utilization of all sources of wood, including waste wood and recycled wood, thus making a significant contribution to forest conservation. Wood-based products made using melamine include: Laminates Plywood Particle Board (PB) Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) Oriented Strand Board (OSB) Beams Benefits of melamine-based wood products: Versatile: available in an unlimited variety of dimensions Cost-effective: competing materials (solid wood, plastics and metal) are more expensive Easy to use: can be shaped easily Helps to conserve forests: makes efficient use of waste wood Strong Moisture-resistant Triamino-triazine, consisting of carbon, nitrogen and hydrogen. Used as a raw material for making waterproof melamine adhesives to glue pieces of wood together to form boards and beams, or to be mixed with woodchips or sawdust and compressed to form wood-based panels. Provides heat, chemicals and moisture resistance and hardness. Applications: laminates, plywood, particle board (PB), medium density fiberboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB) and beams.