Synthesis of the melamine-formaldehyde polycondensate and its thermal stabilization effect on polyoxymethylene

Melamine (MA) was polymeric modified by condensation reacting with formaldehyde (FA) to form the melamine formaldehyde polycondensate (abbreviation: MF) with high molecule-weight and comparatively high processing thermo-stability. The effect of the reacting molar ratio of MA and FA, and the types and concentrations of the dispersion agents on the structure and properties of MF were discussed, and the finely divided, cross-linked, and thermo-stable MF polycondensates were obtained. The thermal stabilization effect of MF on POM was studied by the isothermal weight loss analysis at 220 degrees C, isothermal weight loss rate analysis at 222 degrees C, thermal gravity analysis (TGA) and balance torque analysis, which showed that MF has almost the equal thermal stabilization on POM to MA. The multiple processing and long-term thermal stability at high temperature measurements indicated that MF showed even higher thermal stabilization on POM than MA. Moreover, the impact strength was improved after five times of extrusion, due to the better dispersion of MF in POM matrix and better nucleation effect of MF on POM. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.