Melamine

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Melamine

Melamine is a strong organic base with chemical formula C₃ H₆ N₆, with the IUPAC name 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. Its SMILES string is NC1=NC(N)=NC(N)=N1. Melamine is produced from urea, mainly by either of two methods: catalyzed gas-phase production or high pressure liquid-phase production.

Melamine is primarily used to produce melamine resin, which when combined with formaldehyde produces a very durable thermoset plastic. This plastic is often used in kitchen utensils or plates (e.g. Melmac). It is often used in laminates. It is the main constituent in high pressure laminates such as Formica and Arborite and of laminate flooring. Melamine tile wall panels are known as whiteboards. Melamine resin is often directly laminated to particle board; the resultant panel is often referred to just as "melamine" and is the main panel good used in Ready-To-Assemble furniture and many kitchen cabinets.

With up to 6 active hydrogen sites, melamine reacts with formaldehyde and methanol to form a large family of resins. A resin ratio of 2 moles formaldehyde to 1 of melamine is used extensively to impregnate countertop surface paper laminates, making them flame and boil resistant. A resin ratio of 6 moles of formaldehyde to 1 of melamine followed by excess methanol forms a methylolated crosslinking resin used to impart heat and solvent resistance to numerous latex-based coatings.

Melamine, dicyandiamide (or cyanoguanidine) and cyanamide are related. The first is considered the trimer and the second the dimer of the third. All contain 66% N and provide fire retardant properties to resin formulas by releasing nitrogen when burned or charred.

Melamine foam has an interlinking bubble format which produces a structure more like a block of microscopic fibreglass than normal foam. It is used for soundproofing, as a fire-retardant material (but not as insulation, because it allows air to pass through its structure), and also as a cleaning product, the name-brand version of which is Magic Eraser, though other companies chop up and sell the same foam under their own, or generic, names. Because of its interlocking microporous nature, and the extreme hardness of the resulting fibres, it can seem to clean "uncleanable" things from any relatively smooth, hard surface, such as a crayon from a painted wall, or road grease from a hubcap.