Open Access Research Article

Concise Chemistry of Urea Formaldehyde Resins and Formaldehyde Emission

Ayodele Akinterinwa1*, Abdullahi Ismaila1,2 and Benson Aliyu1

1Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Nigeria

2Advance Space Technology Application Laboratory, Kano National Space Research and Development Agency, Nigeria

Corresponding Author

Received Date: February 03, 2020; Published Date: February 11, 2020

Abstract

Urea formaldehyde (UF) resins have found a lot of industrial applications mostly as binder in woodworks and coating. The resin is a low-cost product synthesized from urea and formaldehyde in a sequential addition (methylolation) and condensation (polymerization) reactions. The addition reaction generates methylol and urea derivatives that proceed into condensation reactions. The condensation reactions takes the resin from its initial fluid state through to the formation of a thermosetting film, however, this is companied by release of formaldehyde which may be hazardous to health. As briefly highlighted in this review, having a concise knowledge of the chemistry of these processes will be an easy guide towards a successful synthesis of UF resins with improved performance and environmental attributes.

Keywords: Formaldehyde; Methylol; Resin; Synthesis; Urea

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