Melamine resins

Background and aims

Self structuring polymer materials in the nano or micro scale have become essential for coating and plastics applications. This includes the so-called nanoparticles as well as the inorganic/organic hybrid materials. The applications of nanoparticles are as varied as the particles themselves. Thus titanium dioxide or aluminium oxide nanoparticles are used in cosmetic products such as sunscreens, toothpaste or deodorant. In nanoelectronics, carbon nanotubes can form new logic circuits.

The aim of the project is the synthesis, the modification and characterization of melamine nanoparticles. The nanoparticles are incorporated in carious coating systems to achieve a desired property profile of the coating

Results

By acid-catalysed condensation of hexamethoxymethylolmelamin (HMMM), the production of nanoparticles with different sizes is possible. The growth of the particles is monitored by means of light scattering. The particle size decreases with increasing catalyst concentration. By atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy novel platelet-shaped nanoparticles are detected. Molecular modelling experiments have confirmed a coplanar polymerization. The particles can be stabilized by the addition of additives and incorporated into coating systems.