What is melamine?
Melamine is a nitrogen rich compound that is approved for a wide variety of industrial applications, including cleaning products and in pesticides and fertilizers. It is also approved for use in food packaging and tableware. Melamine is not allowed to be added to foods, but very low background levels may be present as a result of these other uses.
Melamine is an organic compound that is often combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a synthetic polymer which is fire resistant and heat tolerant. Melamine resin is a very versatile material with a highly stable structure. Uses for melamine include whiteboards, floor tiles, kitchenware, fire retardant fabrics, and commercial filters. Melamine can be easily molded while warm, but will set into a fixed form. This property makes it ideally suited to certain industrial applications. Melamine resin is manufactured by mixing urea with formaldehyde under heat and pressure. The substances begin to polymerize and are forced into a mold which will create the desired shape. Under pressure, melamine releases water, which could make the plastic unstable if it is not removed. The materials finish polymerizing and create a finished product, melamine resin. Melamine resin is known as a thermoset plastic, because the plastic is fixed after molding. If exposed to enough heat, melamine wi
Melamine is a thin laminate, similar in appearance and durability to a Formica-type product. Melamine is not applied to a heavy paper like Formica is, so it must be applied directly to a wood product substrate. Industrial grade particle board is the most common choice because of its density and smooth surface. Thermally Fused Melamine is applied to both sides of a panel under high heat, creating a bond that will never fail. We use Melamine panels because of their resistance to scratching and scuffing, and because it is more economical than a Formica-type of product.
