Please select a Shopping List

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula CH2O or HCHO.

The textile industry uses formaldehyde-based resins as finishers to make fabrics crease-resistant. Formaldehyde-based materials are key to the manufacture of automobiles and used to make components for the transmission, electrical system, engine block, door panels, axles and brake shoes. The value of sales of formaldehyde and derivative products was over $145 billion in 2003, about 1.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States and Canada. Including indirect employment, over 4 million people work in the formaldehyde industry across approximately 11,900 plants in the U.S. and Canada.

When treated with phenol, urea, or melamine, formaldehyde produces, respectively, hard thermoset phenol formaldehyde resin, urea formaldehyde resin, and melamine resin. These polymers are common permanent adhesives used in plywood, laminate flooring and carpeting. It is used as the wet-strength resin added to sanitary paper products such as facial tissue, table napkins, and roll towels. They are also foamed to make insulation, or cast into molded products. Production of formaldehyde resins accounts for more than half of formaldehyde consumption. It is used in products as part of the manufacturing process.

Formaldehyde is toxic by inhalation and a strong irritant to human tissue. Strict control of gas emissions in finished consumer products is monitored by organizations such as UL through their GreenGuard Certification. Monitoring of the manufacturing production process is an issue that is controlled by local, state and federal agencies expressed as environmental health and safety laws in the country of origin.

Copyright © 2022 Products Direct. All rights reserved.