Introduction:

Urea- formaldehyde resin obtained by chemical combination of urea and formaldehyde.Urea-

formaldehyde resins are used mostly as adhesives for the bonding of plywood, particleboard and
other structured wood products. Urea-formaldehyde resin's attributes include high tensile
strength,flexural modulas, , and a high heat distortion temperature, low water absorption, mould
shrinkage, high surface hardness, elongation at break, and volume resistance. It has a refractive
index of 1.55. The chemical structure of UF polymer consists of [(O)CNHCH2NH]n repeat units.
In contrast melamine-formaldehyde resins feature NCH2OCH2N repeat units.

Theory:
Urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins are based on the reaction of two monomers, urea and
formaldehyde. By using different conditions of reaction and preparation a more or less
innumerable variety of condensed structures is possible. UF resins are the most important type of
the so-called amino-plastic resins. Urea formaldehyde (UF) resins are primarily made up of urea
and formaldehyde with formaldehyde acting as the crosslinker. The UF resins are formed in
water at a pH above 7 at the start of the reaction, because the methylol derivatives that form in
the first steps condense rapidly at acidic conditions:

Fig: UREA FORMALDEHYDE RESIN preparation.

Apparatus:
1) Urea.
2). Formalin (40% w/v) solution.
3). Sodium hydroxide (4% w/v) solution.
4). Lactic acid (7.2% v/v) solution.
5) 250 mL bolt head flask
6). Heating mantle.
7). Reflux condenser.
8). G-clamps.
9). BDH universal indicator paper.

Procedure:
10 g of urea and 27 mL of formalin in a 1:2.2 mole ratio were taken. 0.5 mL of sodium
hydroxide was also taken.They all were mixed in the 250 mL bolt head flask and was boiled
under reflux for five minutes.After that the pH was adjusted of the liquor to 5.5 with lactic acid
using BDH universal paper and continued the boiling in the mantle at maximum for another 30
minutes under reflux.Then again the liquor was adjusted to pH 7.5 using sodium hydroxide
solution and kept it in an oven to get thick syrup.

Result:
Before putting the mixture into the oven after reflux, it was carefully noticed. Telltale signs of thick
syrup formation was evident in that mixture as we can see from the image below:

Syrup

Final product
Discussion:
Under the influence of heat and pressure, the resin made up largely of low-molecular weight
intermediate polymers or prepolymers, is cured to its final state, which consists of a three
dimensional network of interlinked polymers.UF can be strengthened by cellulose and tinted by
numerous pigments to make light, thin, hard, strong, colorful articles for the home and kitchen. Its
electrical resistance made it desirable for products such as wall outlets and switch plates .UF are
also used to treat textile fibres in ord
 Lab Report: 03
Lab Report on: Preparation of urea formaldehyde adhesive.
Course Name: Polymer Science and Engineering Sessional
Course Code: CEP 354.

Submission Date
21/03/19
Submitted By
Sourav Sutradhar
Reg No: 2016332005
Dept: Chemical Engineering And Polymer Science,Sust

Submitted To
Myisha Choudhory
Lecturer
Dept. Of CEP,SUST
Dr. Mohammed Mastabur Rahman
Professor
Dept. Of CEP,SUST
er improve wrinkle and shrink resistance.