One-pot synthesis and structural characterization of urea-isobutyraldehyde-formaldehyde resin

Urea-isobutyraldehyde-formaldehyde (UIF) resin was synthesized from urea, isobutyraldehyde, and formaldehyde using sulfuric acid as a catalyst by one pot method. The effects of molar ratios of isobutyraldehyde to formaldehyde (n(I)/n(F)) and aldehyde to urea (n(A)/n(U)) on the yield, hydroxyl value (vs KOH) and softening point of the resin were investigated. The structure of the resin was characterized by FT-IR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR. The results show that when the molar ratio of urea to isobutyraldehyde to formaldehyde (n(U)/n(I)/n(F)) is 1.0/3.0/3.0, the yield UIF resin is 67.1%, and the softening point and hydroxyl value are 88 degrees C and 37 mg/g, respectively. The FT-IR, H-1-NMR and C-13-NMR results show that the lactam is formed by aminomethylation from urea, isobutyraldehyde, and formaldehyde.