Difference between revisions of "Melamine formaldehyde resin"

Latest revision as of 10:54, 4 December 2020

Melamine plate and bowl
MFA 1996.131.1-3

Description

'Boonton' dishes
MFA 2010.539

A thermosetting Amino resin that is made by reacting melamine with Formaldehyde. First made in 1933 by CIBA, melamine formaldehyde resins were most often used for molded plastic products and were filled with Cellulose, Wood flour, or mineral powders. They produce a hard, high gloss plastic that was used for utensils, containers, dishware (Melmac) and countertops (Formica®). Melamine formaldehyde resins are also used for Plywood, textile sizing, leather processing, and paper strengthening. They are resistant to water and biodegradation.

Synonyms and Related Terms

melamine; amino resin; melamine-formaldehyde resin

Commercial products: Melamine; Melmac; Meladur; Prolon; Formica® [Formica]; Texasware; Boontonware

Formica on Server
MFA#: 93.1108

Risks

Evolves formaldehyde and ammonia as it degrades.
May fade or discolor
Scratches easily

Physical and Chemical Properties

Resistant to water, acids, bases and organic solvents. Density = 1.5

Comparisons

General Characteristics of Polymers

Physical Properties for Selected Thermoset Resins

Resources and Citations

History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html .. commercial processes for melamine synthesis patented in 1933 (CIBA) and 1946 (DUPONT).

Sharon Blank, An introduction to plastics and rubbers in collections, Studies in Conservation, 35, 53-63, 1990 Comment: Introduced in 1934

G.S.Brady, Materials Handbook, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New York, 1971

Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+[[File:MFA1996131 Melamine.jpg|thumb|Melamine plate and bowl<br>MFA 1996.131.1-3]]
 == Description ==
+[[File:MFA2010539 Melamine.jpg|thumb|'Boonton' dishes<br>MFA 2010.539]]
-A thermosetting [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=amino%20resin amino resin] that is made by reacting melamine with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=formaldehyde formaldehyde]. First made in 1933 by CIBA, melamine formaldehyde resins were most often used for molded plastic products and were filled with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=cellulose cellulose], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=wood%20flour wood flour], or mineral powders. They produce a hard, high gloss plastic that was used for utensils, containers, dishware ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=Melmac Melmac]) and countertops ([http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=Formica%C2%AE Formica®]). Melamine formaldehyde resins are also used for [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=plywood plywood], textile sizing, leather processing, and paper strengthening. They are resistant to water and biodegradation.
+A thermosetting [[amino%20resin|amino resin]] that is made by reacting melamine with [[formaldehyde|formaldehyde]]. First made in 1933 by CIBA, melamine formaldehyde resins were most often used for molded plastic products and were filled with [[cellulose|cellulose]], [[wood%20flour|wood flour]], or mineral powders. They produce a hard, high gloss plastic that was used for utensils, containers, dishware ([[Melmac|Melmac]]) and countertops ([[Formica|Formica®]]). Melamine formaldehyde resins are also used for [[plywood|plywood]], textile sizing, leather processing, and paper strengthening. They are resistant to water and biodegradation.
 == Synonyms and Related Terms ==
-melamine; Melmac; Formica® [Formica]; amino resin; melamine-formaldehyde resin
+melamine; amino resin; melamine-formaldehyde resin
-== Other Properties ==
-Resistant to water, acids, bases and organic solvents.
+Commercial products: Melamine; Melmac; Meladur; Prolon; Formica® [Formica]; Texasware; Boontonware
+[[File:formica black.jpg|thumb|Formica on Server<br>MFA#: 93.1108]]
+== Risks ==
-{| class="wikitable"
+* Evolves formaldehyde and ammonia as it degrades.
-|-
+* May fade or discolor
-! scope="row"| Density
+* Scratches easily
-| 1.5
-|}
-== Hazards and Safety ==
+== Physical and Chemical Properties ==
-Evolves formaldehyde and ammonia as it degrades.
+Resistant to water, acids, bases and organic solvents. Density = 1.5
 == Comparisons ==
@@ Line 27: / Line 26: @@
 [[media:download_file_277.pdf|Physical Properties for Selected Thermoset Resins]]
+== Resources and Citations ==
+* History of Plastics: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html .. commercial processes for melamine synthesis patented in 1933 (CIBA) and 1946 (DUPONT).
-== Sources Checked for Data in Record ==
-* Website address 1  Comment: www.nswpmith.com.au/historyofplastics.html .. commercial processes for melamine synthesis patented in 1933 (CIBA) and 1946 (DUPONT).
 * Sharon Blank, An introduction to plastics and rubbers in collections, ''Studies in Conservation'', 35, 53-63, 1990  Comment: Introduced in 1934