Impact of the Synthesis Procedure on Urea-Formaldehyde Resins Prepared by Alkaline-Acid Process

Abstract

In this work, two synthesis procedures for the preparation of urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins, based on the alkaline-acid process, are studied in order to better understand the chemical reactions involved. For that purpose, the number of urea loads and the methyolation temperature were varied. The molecular weight distribution of the resins was monitored by gel permeation chromatography/size exclusion chromatography and the unreacted oligomers by high-performance liquid chromatography, during the synthesis processes. Chemical modifications were investigated using quantitative analysis by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance of samples taken during the synthesis. The largest difference identified between the procedures regards the methylene linkages and methylol groups determined by C-13 NMR. With the results of this study, it is possible to optimize the process and the properties of particleboards produced.