Density Functional Investigation of Melamine-Formaldehyde Crosslinking Agents Part 1: Partially Substituted Melamine
Computational modeling has been performed on the cross-linking mechanism of partially substituted melamine reacting with poly(vinyl alcohol). Ab initio calculations were performed with density functional theory employing the BLYP functional and double numerical DND basis set. The mechanism, general acid catalysis, has been modeled with respect to structures, protonation, and reaction with a polymer. Protonation of the oxygen is required initially, followed by liberation of methanol. The reaction can take one of two pathways after methanol liberation. The conjugate base of the weak acid can abstract a proton, generating a Schiff-base intermediate. The O-H on the polymer then adds to the C-N double bond, producing the polymer-melamine bond. The alternative is that the polymer adds to the charged melamine, using the specific acid catalysis mechanism. After polymer addition, the proton is abstracted, producing the product.
- Research Organization:
- Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC07-99ID-13727
- OSTI ID:
- 912004
- Report Number(s):
- INEEL/JOU-02-00847; TRN: US200801%%449
- Journal Information:
- Macromolecules, Vol. 42, Issue 18
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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