PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
1 of 3
Formaldehyde
(Methylene Oxide, Oxomethane, Formaldehyde
Solution, Oxymethylene, Formic Aldehyde,
Formalin, Methanal, Aqueous Formaldehyde)
O
II
H—C—H
MW = 30.03
Formaldehyde, Chemical Abstracts
Registry Number 50-00-0
Wiswesser Line-Formula Chemical
Notation VHH
Aqueous formaldehyde solutions,
known commercially as formaldehyde, are clear, colorless liquids at
normal storage temperatures with
a very pungent odor. They are soluble in water, lower alcohols, and
ether. The largest end uses of formaldehyde are to produce amino
resins (urea and melamine) and
phenolic resins (resoles and novolacs) for wood bonding applications. Other uses for these resins
include adhesives for laminates,
molding compounds, textile treatments, coatings resins, foundry
resins, and insulation binders.
Another large consumer of formaldehyde is the production of acetal
resins.
Large quantities of formaldehyde
are consumed in the manufacture
of pentaerythritol. The major market for pentaerythritol is in alkyd
resins for coatings. Other uses for
pentaerythritol include synthetic
lubricants, specialty flame retardants, oil additives, and rosin
esters. Tri-methylolpropane manufacture accounts for a significant
amount of formaldehyde. The bulk
of the demand for trimethylolpropane is in the production of
urethanes, alkyds and lubricants.
Formaldehyde is also used in the
manufacture of slow nitrogenrelease fertilizers, ureaforms,
hexamine, chelating and textiletreating agents, butanediol and
neo-pentyl glycol.
Celanese Chemicals aqueous
Formaldehyde is available in consen-trations from 37 to 50 percent
by weight. A stabilization process
permits prolonged storage at
reduced tempera-tures not possible
with unstabilized material.
Formaldehyde is one of the most
important basic chemicals in current industrial use because of its
high order of chemical reactivity
and low cost. The carbonyl group
for gaseous, monomeric formaldehyde carries two hydrogen atoms
and no alkyl group. This structure
is largelyresponsible for its unique
properties. Its high reactivity has
imposed definite limitations on the
temperatures at which formaldehyde may be shipped and stored
without deterioration. Most aqueous solutions of formaldehyde
must be kept hot to prevent the
precipitation of a hard paraformaldehyde polymer. Methyl alcohol is the inhibitor normally used
to minimize the formation of this
polymer when heating facilities
are unavailable or inadequate.
Formaldehyde solutions are
offered, either uninhibited or suitably inhibited with methyl alcohol
to permit lower storage temperatures.The higher the formaldehyde
concentration, the more heat is
required in storage.
Celanese Chemicals formaldehyde
solutions require less heating in
storage than unstabilized solutions.
This is because the Celanese
Chemicals process “builds in” a
stabilizing factor that is more
effective than methyl alcohol in
counterbalancing the inherent tendency of formaldehyde to polymerize and dropout of solution.
Notice: Celanese Chemicals
formaldehyde products are not
registered nor intended for any
active ingredient use associated
with pesticides, fungicides, rodenticides, or any activities requiring
Celanese Chemicals registration
under the Federal Insecticide,
Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
(FIFRA).
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
2 of 3
Formaldehyde
Chemical
Reactions
1.
Polymerization occurs at low temperatures:
nHCHO + H2O → HO(CH2O)nH
2.
The Cannizzaro reaction forming methyl alcohol and
formic acid is catalyzed by alkaline conditions, but may
still occur under acid conditions at high temperatures:
2HCHO + H2O OH – CH3OH + HCOOH
3.
Methylal formation is catalyzed by acid conditions and
metal salts:
HCHO + 2CH3OH H + CH2(OCH3)2 + H2O
4.
Oxidation to formic acid by ordinary exposure to air is
represented by the equation:
2HCHO + O2 → 2HCOOH
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
3 of 3
Formaldehyde
Physical
Properties
37UN
37/7
37/9-12
37/12-15 44UN
46.5UN
50UN
Formaldehyde
Content, wt %
Methanol Content, wt %
Specific Gravity at 60°C
37
12
1.090
37
7
1.072
37
9-12
1.0641.053
37
12-15
1.0531.047
44
1.5 2
1.102 1
46.5
1.5 2
1.109 1
50
1.5 2
1.119 1
Coefficient of Thermal
Expansion/°C
.0005
.0005
.0006
.0006
.0006
.0006
.0006
Boiling Point at
760 mm HgA, °C
98.3
97.3
98.9
99.1
69
96.2975.6
61
98.6
85
96.996.2
64
74
73
70
118
2
20
113
11
20
110-107
16-24
21
106-102
24-32
22
142 1
31
29 1
138 1
31
30 1
134 1
31
311
140
144
147-152
152-156
174 1
1711
168 1
0.76
0.78
0.78
0.78
0.70
0.70
0.70
0.79
0.81
0.810.83
0.830.85
0.811
0.82 1
0.83 1
Flash Point, TCC, °C
Partial Pressures at60°C, mm HgA
Water
Methanol
Formaldehyde
Vapor Pressure at
60°C, mm HgA
Specific Heat of Liquid
cal/g/°C at 25-40°C
Vapor Density at
60°C (Air-1)
1. At 65°C
2. Maximum
This information is based on our present
state of knowledge and is intended to provide general notes on our products and
their uses. It should therefore not be construed as guaranteeing specific properties
of the products described or their suitability
for a particular application. Any existing
industrial property rights must be observed.
The quality of our products is guaranteed
under our General Conditions of Sale.
PB-010-3
02/01 9072
Dallas:
1601 West LBJ Freeway
Dallas, Texas 75234-6034
Tel.: 972 443-4000
Frankfurt:
Lurgialle 14
D-60439 Frankfurt am Main
Tel.: 0049/69-305-13300