The chance of getting through the day without seeing melamine is zero Melamine is everywhere. It is present in a number of products we use and see in our every day life. We do not literally 'see' the raw material, because once it has been used to create an end product, it no longer exists in its original physical form - a white powder. Melamine is an invisible super binder that turns wood, paper, textile and other materials into strong, durable and stylish products. Furniture, tableware, floors, cars, banknotes, beverage cans and construction panels are just some examples of where we see melamine.But the story does not end here.
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 | History Melamine was invented by the German scientist Justus von Liebig in the 1830s who also developed a nitrogen based fertilizer. These two inventions still impact the lives of billions of people today, contributing to sustainable food production and the development of sustainable products.OCI Nitrogen's melamine was first produced fifty years ago with the introduction of a new, groundbreaking, urea-based technology. This was the beginning of a successful journey which is ongoing today. For decades the world of melamine and its end products has been in a continuous state of flux and we expect this trend to go on in the future. |
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Two key reasons to use melamine
Melamine molecules have strong crosslinking properties and bond securely with other molecules to form resins. Pressure and heat transform the melamine-based resins into very rigid solid structures that are durable, scratchproof, chemical-resistant and water-repellent.
Melamine is non-flammable and can help prevent or retard fire.
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What is melamine | | | |
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Melamine is an industrial chemical; a white crystalline powder consisting of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen. Most melamine is used as a starting product for the manufacture of adhesives and resins that are used in woodbased panels, laminate floors and decorative surfaces for furniture. It is also present in thermoset plastics, flame retardants and many other products. |
| Chemical formulaChemical nameCAS-number | C3N6H61,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine108-78-1 |
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