Formaldehyde

Uses

Formaldehyde kills most bacteria, and so a solution of formaldehyde in water is commonly used as a disinfectant or to preserve biological specimens. It is also used as a preservative in vaccinations. In medicine, formaldehyde solutions are applied topically to dry the skin, such as in the treatment of warts. Formaldehyde based solutions are used in embalming to disinfect and temporarily preserve human remains pending final disposition.

Related Topics:
Bacteria - Preservative - Vaccination - Wart - Embalming

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Most formaldehyde, however, is used in the production of polymers and other chemicals. When combined with phenol, urea, or melamine, formaldehyde produces a hard thermoset resin. These resins are commonly used in permanent adhesives, such as those used in plywood or carpeting. They are also foamed to make insulation, or cast into molded products. Production of formaldehyde resins accounts for more than half of formaldehyde consumption.

Related Topics:
Phenol - Urea - Melamine - Thermoset - Plywood - Carpet - Insulation - Cast

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Formaldehyde is also used to make numerous other chemicals. Many of these are polyfunctional alcohols such as pentaerythritol, which is used to make paints and explosives. Other formaldehyde derivatives include methylene diphenyl diisocyanate, an important component in polyurethane paints and foams, and hexamethylene tetramine, which is used in phenol-formaldehyde resins and to make the explosive RDX.

Related Topics:
Alcohol - Pentaerythritol - Paint - Explosive - Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate - Polyurethane - Hexamethylene tetramine - RDX

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In China, formaldehyde is used in up to 95% of its domestically-produced beer to prevent sediments from settling on the bottles and cans while in storage.http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-07/14/content_460109.htm South Korea and Japan are now testing Chinese-imported beer and will ban Chinese beer if formaldehyde is discovered.

Related Topics:
China - South Korea - Japan

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Formaldehyde cross links amino groups.

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