METHOD FOR PRODUCING SULFONATED MELAMINE FORMALDEHYDE RESINS

摘要

A process of producing an aqueous solution of a sulfonated melamine-formaldehyde resin. The process comprises condensing melamine and formaldehyde or a precursor of formaldehyde (e.g. paraformaldehyde) in an aqueous mixture having a pH in the range of 8-10 to form a reaction mixture containing a condensation product of melamine and formaldehyde. The condensation product is then reacted in an aqueous mixture having a pH of 8-10, preferably 8-9, with a sulfonating agent to produce a mixture containing a sulfonated condensation product. Finally, polymerizing the said sulfonated condensation product in an aqueous mixture having a pH of 5-7 to form a resin solution. In the process, at least one of the sulfonation step and the polymerizing step is carried out under superatmospheric pressure (generally 5 to 70 p.s.i.) and at an elevated temperature of, in the case of the sulfonating step, 100 DEG -130 DEG C. for a time of 1 to 5 hours or of, in the case of the polymerizing step, 105-150 DEG C. for a time of 15 minutes to three hours. Modifications of the basic process involve carrying out the sulfonation of the formaldehyde before the condensation of the melamine and formaldehyde or reacting all of the melamine, formaldehyde or precursor and the sulfonating agent all together under superatmospheric pressure. The resulting aqueous solution, or the dried resin extracted therefrom, has low salt content and is suitable as a superplasticizer for concrete mixes.