Chemistry Sectors: Paints, Coatings & Adhesives
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| EUROPEAN MELAMINE PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION (EMPA) | ||
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| Melamine is a white, crystalline powder made from urea, a readily available raw material that is produced from ammonia and carbon dioxide. More than 95% of melamine production worldwide is used as a raw material to make amino-formaldehyde resins. These are used in a variety of applications, among others laminates, adhesive resins, flame-retardants, coatings and dinnerware. The remaining 5% is mostly used as melamine crystal or melamine salts for various flame retardant applications. Most of the melamine produced worldwide is used by the wood-based panel industry in laminates for kitchen tops, furniture and laminate flooring panels and in wood-based panels such as particleboard and MDF panels. Melamine-formaldehyde adhesives are added to wood chips and the resulting material is compressed to form waterproof particleboard panels. A sheet of paper printed with a wood design is soaked in a similar melamine resin and is pressed onto the particleboard to obtain the laminate flooring panel. Melamine resins for laminate applications are transparent and make laminates resistant to scratches, weather, water and chemicals. These unique qualities enable us to develop attractive and durable surfaces with an infinite choice of design. The demand for melamine is directly linked to activities in the construction, refurbishing, automotive and furniture sectors. The market sizes for these applications will vary according to geographic regions, but the drivers are similar on a macro level. |
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| CONTACT |
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| Reinhard Strupp |
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| MEMBERSHIP | ||
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| Agrolinz Melamin (AT)
Azomures (RO) BASF (DE) DSM Melamine (NL) Zaklady Azotowe Pulawy (PL) |
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| WORTH READING | ||
| - Melamine Flame Retardants, A Safe Feeling, 1997 – GB, DE, FR | ||
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