Mechanism of thermal degradation of urea-formaldehyde polycondensates

The thermal degradation to 500°C of urea-formaldehyde polycondensate occurs in four successive steps. In each step, partial volatilisation takes place while the polymer undergoes chemical modification to give progressively more stable structures.Below 200°C methylene ether bridges are transformed into methylene bridges and branching and crosslinking reactions occur with maximum rates at 125°C and 165°C, respectively. Above 200°C radicals formed by chain scission induce the formation of cyclic structures in the polymer which undergoes extensive fragmentation above 300°C. Water, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and dioxide, methane, ammonia, monomethylamine and trimethylamine are the gaseous products evolved.By combining data on the chemical modifications and gases evolved in each step, reaction mechanisms are proposed.