Melamine

Borealis is one of the global market leaders in melamine production

Melamine is converted from the raw material urea and consists of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. It has become an essential raw material in the global production of synthetic resins. As one of the global market leaders in melamine production, we produce around 130,000 tonnes of melamine per year, 80% of which is destined for the wood-based panel industry. In the manufacture of everyday objects used in the kitchen or around the house, melamine also plays an important role, for example as one component used to make handles for pots and pans.

Providing tangible benefits in our everyday lives

Melamine is the most valuable and sophisticated product in the nitrogen chain. Normally processed as a resin, this chemical compound is prized for the numerous exceptional qualities which make it so valuable in the production of articles used in everyday life. Melamine resins deliver:

  • High stability, allowing end products containing melamine to resist high temperature exposure as well as physical and chemical degradation
  • High bonding potential, enabling surface applications with excellent properties like hardness as well as scratch and moisture resistance
  • High nitrogen content, making melamine an ideal flame retardant material

Most of the melamine produced worldwide is used by the wood-based panel industry. It is also commonly used in the construction, automotive and furniture industries. Important applications include:

  • Laminates – laminate flooring, kitchen and bathroom countertops, self-assembly furniture, exterior wall claddings
  • Wood panels – plywood, particle boards, medium-density fibreboard (MDF), oriented strand board (OSB), laminated veneer lumber (LVL)
  • Coatings – vehicle body panels, household appliances, food and beverage cans, metal sheeting coils
  • Moulding compounds – tableware, electrical equipment, handles for pans, utensils
  • Flame retardants – upholstery, mattresses, fire-door coating
  • Resins for textile and paper finishing, including banknotes, wallpapers, wrinkle-free apparel
  • Concrete plasticisers

Producing melamine of high quality

As the second-largest producer of high-quality melamine in Europe, we produce approximately 130,000 tonnes each year at our plant in Linz, Austria and at Borealis facilities in Piesteritz, Germany. Acting in compliance with REACH – the European Union regulation governing the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals – we can ensure that our chemical substances adhere to the highest European standards in quality. The majority of our melamine is used to produce melamine-formaldehyde (MF) and melamine-urea-formaldehyde (MUF) resins. A small part of our production is used in crystal form as a flame retardant in soft polyurethane (PU) foams.

Comprehensive service, technological know-how

As a key player in the global industry, we continue to develop innovative, application-driven solutions in close cooperation with our customers. It is our aim to provide the best possible technical support in order to strengthen our long-term partnerships. To this end, we provide a wide range of consultative services, including:

  • Chemical analyses
  • Resin synthesis
  • Paper impregnation tests
  • Lamination tests
  • Customer-specific product trials
  • Product development services
  • Process optimisation
Melamine & Guanidine Carbonate

Got a question?

Get in touch