A review of recent progress in melamine-formaldehyde resin based nanocomposites as coating materials

Nanomaterials are receiving global attention due to outstanding high effectiveness and thermal stability, fire retardancy, excellent physical-mechanical properties, good technological properties, and biocompatibility. In this review, a survey of the literature on extending the performance of melamine-formaldehyde resin (MFR) based on nanomaterials is presented. The properties-performance relationships for different nanomaterials modified MFR are closely examined. MFR adhesives are commonly used because they have superior adhesive properties and water resistance. Nano-technology has a massive potential to enhance polymer composites with improved performance. Nanomaterial-improved polymers for adhesives have been progressed to enhance the properties of wood composites. MFR is one of the most common thermoset resins for coating applications. Based on nanotechnology, it is possible to design advanced MFR-based polymers for industrial uses such as coatings. In this critical review, for the first time, it is emphasized the importance of the recent progress on the impact of nanomaterials to improve the performance of MFR adhesives such as mechanical properties, thermal stability, fire retardancy and free formaldehyde emission, and various aspects of such engineered polymers are discussed and accentuated. Using nanoparticles in liquid MFR adhesives has the potential to significantly lower environmental and health hazards. Eventually, based on the above discussion, the challenges and perspectives about future enhancements emphasizes the necessity of a new vision into the high-level analysis of what happens at the MFR and nanomaterial studies that are not actually clear in the research on the coating industry. To synthesize MFR nanocomposites for industrial use, the processing of these nanocomposites must be developed from lab scale to industrially appropriate approaches.