IR spectroscopy: Suitable method for determination of curing degree and crosslinking type in melamine–formaldehyde resins

Melamine–formaldehyde (MF) resins are widely used as adhesives and finishing materials in the wood industry. During resin cure, either methylene ether or methylene bridges are formed, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional resin network. Not only the curing degree, but also the chemical species present in the cured resin determine the quality of the final product. Analytical methods allowing a detailed investigation of network formation are of great benefit to manufacturers. In the present work, resin cure of an MF precondensate is studied at different temperatures (100–200 °C) without considering the initial pH as a factor. Isoconversional kinetic analysis based on exothermal curing enthalpies enables calculation of the crosslinking degree at a given time/temperature regime. A semiquantitative determination of the chemical groups present is performed based on solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance data. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy has shown to be a fast and reliable analytical tool with high sensitivity toward functional groups and with great potential for at-line process control. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47691.