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Urea-formaldehyde (UF), also known as urea-methanal, so named for its common synthesis pathway and overall structure, [1] is a nontransparent thermosetting resin or polymer. It is produced from urea and formaldehyde. These resins are used in adhesives, plywood, particle board, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), and molded objects.
The structure of the molecule of urea is O=C(−NH 2) 2.The urea molecule is planar when in a solid crystal because of sp 2 hybridization of the N orbitals. [8] [9] It is non-planar with C 2 symmetry when in the gas phase [10] or in aqueous solution, [9] with C–N–H and H–N–H bond angles that are intermediate between the trigonal planar angle of 120° and the tetrahedral angle of 109.5°.
In situ polymerization of such formaldehyde systems usually involves the emulsification of an oil-phase in water. Then, water-soluble urea/melamine formaldehyde resin monomers are added, which are allowed to disperse. The initiation step occurs when acid is added to lower the pH of the mixture.
Formaldehyde is a common precursor to more complex compounds and materials. In approximate order of decreasing consumption, products generated from formaldehyde include urea formaldehyde resin, melamine resin, phenol formaldehyde resin, polyoxymethylene plastics, 1,4-butanediol, and methylene diphenyl diisocyanate. [40]
Aldehydes have properties that are diverse and that depend on the remainder of the molecule. Smaller aldehydes such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde are soluble in water, and the volatile aldehydes have pungent odors. Aldehydes can be identified by spectroscopic methods. Using IR spectroscopy, they display a strong ν CO band near 1700 cm −1.
MDF is typically made up of 82% wood fibre, 9% urea-formaldehyde resin glue, 8% water, and 1% paraffin wax. [4] The density is typically between 500 and 1,000 kg/m 3 (31 and 62 lb/cu ft). [ 5 ] The range of density and classification as light-, standard-, or high-density board is a misnomer and confusing.
Wet strength development should not be confused with sizing, the first representing the strength of the paper once wet, the latter being the speed and amount of water absorbed by the paper. Normal wet strength resins are: urea-formaldehyde (UF), melamine-formaldehyde (MF) and polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE).
Adding urea to MF resins has been shown to lower the amount of free formaldehyde below the legal limit and is often used for this purpose. [1] Another complication with MF resins is the low solubility of melamine in water. [16] Because of this and the free formaldehyde content, MF resins are not used as commonly in the field of wood modification.