5811. Melamine

Nomenclature

CAS number: 108-78-1
1,3,5-Triazine-2,4,6-triamine; 2,4,6-triamino-s-triazine; cyanurotriamide.
C3H6N6; mol wt 126.12.
C 28.57%, H 4.80%, N 66.64%.

Description and references

Usually prepd by heating dicyandiamide, H2NC(=NH)NHC≡N, under pressure: Mackay, US 2737513 (1956 to Am. Cyanamid). Alternate methods starting with urea: Mackey, US 2760961 (1956 to Am. Cyanamid); Pomot et al., US 3111519 (1963 to Office Natl. Ind. de l'Azote). X-ray and neutron crystal structure: J. N. Varghese et al., Acta Crystallogr. 33B, 2102 (1977). Review of mfg processes: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 519-523.

Chemical structure

Properties

Monoclinic prisms. mp <250°. Sublimes. d250 1.573. Slightly sol in water; very slightly sol in hot alc; insol in ether.

Use

Forms synthetic resins with formaldehyde.