MF: Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin

General Properties

Short Name:

Name:

Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin

Melamine-formaldehyde resins (MF) also belong to thermosets (aminoplasts). Since Curing (Crosslinking Reactions)Literally translated, the term “crosslinking“ means “cross networking”. In the chemical context, it is used for reactions in which molecules are linked together by introducing covalent bonds and forming three-dimensional networks.curing occurs by polycondensation, a reaction product, in this case water, is released during the reaction. The endothermal effect due to water evaporation overlaps the ExothermicA sample transition or a reaction is exothermic if heat is generated.exothermal effect of the cross-linking reaction. Therefore, measurements of polycondensation reactions are carried out in pressure-tight crucibles (here high-pressure steel crucibles).

Structural Formula

Properties

Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.Glass Transition Temperature	70 to 130°C
Melting Temperatures and EnthalpiesThe enthalpy of fusion of a substance, also known as latent heat, is a measure of the energy input, typically heat, which is necessary to convert a substance from solid to liquid state. The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid (crystalline) to liquid (isotropic melt).Melting Temperature	-
Melting Temperatures and EnthalpiesThe enthalpy of fusion of a substance, also known as latent heat, is a measure of the energy input, typically heat, which is necessary to convert a substance from solid to liquid state. The melting point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes state from solid (crystalline) to liquid (isotropic melt).Melting Enthalpy	-
Decomposition reactionA decomposition reaction is a thermally induced reaction of a chemical compound forming solid and/or gaseous products. Decomposition Temperature	340 to 400°C
Young's Modulus	6000 to 10000 MPa
Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion (CLTE/CTE)The coefficient of linear thermal expansion (CLTE) describes the length change of a material as a function of the temperature.Coefficient of Linear Thermal Expansion	40 to 60 *10^-6/K
Specific Heat Capacity	1.2 J/(g*K)
Thermal ConductivityThermal conductivity (λ with the unit W/(m•K)) describes the transport of energy – in the form of heat – through a body of mass as the result of a temperature gradient (see fig. 1). According to the second law of thermodynamics, heat always flows in the direction of the lower temperature.Thermal Conductivity	0.35 to 0.40 W/(m*K)
DensityThe mass density is defined as the ratio between mass and volume. Density	1.48 to 1.50 g/cm³
Morphology	Thermoset
General properties	Good chemical resistance. High gloss. High surface hardness. High abrasion resistance. Good electrical insulating properties
Processing	Compression, injection molding, extrusion molding
Applications	Furniture industry (adhesive resin for, e.g., wood bonding, face veneer …). Electrical industry. Impregnation of textiles. Matrix for fiber-reinforced composites. Camping dishes, kitchen tools

NETZSCH Measurement

Instrument	DSC 204 `F1` `Phoenix^®`
Sample Mass	24.79 mg
IsothermalTests at controlled and constant temperature are called isothermal.Isothermal Phase	8 min
Heating/Colling Rates	10 K/min
Crucible	High-pressure steel crucible, closed
Atmosphere	N₂ (40 ml/min)

Evaluation

The above plot shows a DSC curve from a single heating of a melamine formaldehyde resin (MF). The Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.glass transition at approx. 61°C (midpoint) is overlapped by a large endothermal enthalpy RelaxationWhen a constant strain is applied to a rubber compound, the force necessary to maintain that strain is not constant but decreases with time; this behavior is known as stress relaxation. The process responsible for stress relaxation can be physical or chemical, and under normal conditions, both will occur at the same time. relaxation peak (peak temperature 69°C) and is immediately followed by an ExothermicA sample transition or a reaction is exothermic if heat is generated.exothermal Curing (Crosslinking Reactions)Literally translated, the term “crosslinking“ means “cross networking”. In the chemical context, it is used for reactions in which molecules are linked together by introducing covalent bonds and forming three-dimensional networks.curing with a peak temperature of approx. 136°C and a reaction enthalpy of 48 J/g. A temperature-modulated DSC (TM-DSC) measurement (not presented here) would be able to separate the reversing Glass Transition TemperatureThe glass transition is one of the most important properties of amorphous and semi-crystalline materials, e.g., inorganic glasses, amorphous metals, polymers, pharmaceuticals and food ingredients, etc., and describes the temperature region where the mechanical properties of the materials change from hard and brittle to more soft, deformable or rubbery.glass transition from the non-reversing endothermal RelaxationWhen a constant strain is applied to a rubber compound, the force necessary to maintain that strain is not constant but decreases with time; this behavior is known as stress relaxation. The process responsible for stress relaxation can be physical or chemical, and under normal conditions, both will occur at the same time. relaxation and the ExothermicA sample transition or a reaction is exothermic if heat is generated.exothermal reaction peaks.