Organofunctional silane modified melamine urea formaldehyde resin with low formaldehyde emission for interior particleboard products

Formaldehyde-based thermoset resins, widely used in the wood-based panel industry, cause formaldehyde emissions that are harmful to human and environmental health. In this study, melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resins modified with organofunctional silanes were synthesized as low-emission adhesives in order to reduce formaldehyde release. The effects of different ratios of 3-(Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and N-2-Aminoethyl-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AEAPTMS) were evaluated. The structure, reaction mechanisms, and properties of the modified resins were investigated by FT-IR, NMR, DSC, TGA, and rheometry analyses. ¹H and ¹³C NMR analyses confirmed the co-polycondensation reaction between M, U, F, and silane compounds. The quality properties of the resins were determined by solids content, gel time, and viscosity; morphological characterization was performed by SEM and SEM-EDX analyses. Particleboards produced with the developed resins were classified as P1 according to the EN 312 standard, and their physical and mechanical properties were evaluated. The results showed that silane modification reduced the formaldehyde content by up to 56.85% and improved the formaldehyde emissions of particleboards.