INVESTIGATION OF MELAMINE-FORMALDEHYDE CURE BY FOURIER-TRANSFORM RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY

Fourier transform (FT) Raman spectroscopy has been used for characterization of melamine-formaldehyde (MF) resins. Band assignments were based on a combination of literature band assignments, a study of the Raman spectra of model compounds and well characterized MF adducts and resins. The triazine ring breathing band at 975 cm-1 and the C-H stretching bands around 3000 cm-1 can be used as internal reference bands in the Raman spectra of MF resins. It is shown that FT-Raman spectroscopy, in combination with C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography can bring further elucidation on the methylolation and ether- and methylene-bridge formation in (cured) MF resins.