Urea formaldehyde resin is a strong and durable thermosetting resin used in adhesives, protective finishes, and as a binder in the fiberboard industry. It can release formaldehyde gas, but is resistant to heat, scratches, and chemical attack. Its use should be done in well-ventilated areas.
Urea formaldehyde (UF) resin is an opaque thermosetting resin produced by heating urea and formaldehyde in an ammonia or pyridine solution. It is widely used as a molding material and component of adhesives and protective finishes. The fiberboard industry is a large consumer of this resin, where it is used as a binder. Despite its many positive attributes, it can release formaldehyde gas under certain conditions. These resins are available as viscous liquids or as spray-dried powders that require the addition of water before use.
Formaldehyde resins are extremely tough and scratch resistant polymers which lend themselves ideally to a range of domestic and industrial applications. UF resin possesses excellent tensile strength, flexibility and resistance to thermal distortion; once cured, it forms a very durable finish. These characteristics have made the polymer a useful additive to a wide range of products such as wood finishes, adhesives and binders. Many home and DIY (Do It Yourself) glues and finishing products are resin-based.
When added to adhesive products such as wood glue, the resin forms a bond that far exceeds the strength of the wood it is used on. The woodworking and cabinet making industries use many resin-based products due to its strength and resilience. Paints based on it are used as final finishes to offer high levels of resistance to heat, spills and scratches. Its extreme strength also makes it an ideal adhesive for veneers and plywood.
The pressure wood industry makes extensive use of urea formaldehyde resin as a binder for its medium and high density fiberboard (MDF/HDF) products. Its exceptional flexural modulus and tensile strength give wood fiber products excellent structural characteristics. These products are found in many domestic and commercial buildings in the form of wall cladding, laminate flooring, furniture and trim. Composites and finishes based on this resin are also highly resistant to chemical and bacterial attack making them ideal for use in the kitchen and bathroom.
One of the few disadvantages of using this resin is the potential health risks associated with exposure to formaldehyde vapors released during curing and decomposition. This is especially true for older UF foam products, such as insulating foil, but even large-scale installations of newer products can release potentially dangerous levels of the gas. Since urea formaldehyde resin is readily available for hobe and home workshop use in both liquid and powder form, this point should be kept in mind when using the products. Mixing, application and especially curing of resin should always be done in well ventilated areas to reduce exposure to the gas.
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