In Swedish

Formaldehyde  (updated in 2010)

Formaldehyde is an important basic chemical. It is reactive, has high purity and is relatively cheap. It is a colourless gas with a distinctive, pungent smell. The gas polymerises at room temperature but is relatively stable at 80-100ºC. Formaldehyde is usually sold as 25-60% solution in water (formalin) and is stabilised with about 10-15% methanol to prevent polymerisation. Paraformaldehyde consists of polymerised formaldehyde in solid form and is used, for example, when low water content is aimed for.

Formaldehyde in its pure form is used as a preservative and disinfectant. Substances capable of emitting formaldehyde (hexamethylentetramine, for example) are also used as preservatives. Formaldehyde has a corrosion-inhibiting effect and is therefore used in metal industry. In photography it is used as a hardener in the emulsion layer of film and also as a stabiliser in stabilising baths for pigment etc in the photosensitive emulsion layer.

Large quantities of formaldehyde are used as raw material for synthesis.

The largest quantities go on production of polymers together with urea or melamine. Urea-formaldehyde polymers are mainly used as binders in the production of chipboard and suchlike products, while melamine-formaldehyde polymers are mainly used as binders in the production of laminates, varnishes, etc. Phenol-formaldehyde polymers are used for similar purposes and for moulding compounds. Urea-formaldehyde resins are also used for crease-resistant finishing of textiles. Low concentrations of formaldehyde can be retained by the products as residual monomers.

Plastics of urea-formaldehyde polymer or melamine-formaldehyde are included among the amino-plastics, which are widely used in many fields. Phenol-formaldehyde plastic, for example, is used when the plastic material needs to be heat-resistant. The acetal plastic oxymethylene plastic is also made from formaldehyde. This plastic is used as a material for various structural and machine parts.

Formaldehyde is used for synthesising polyols such as pentaerythritol and trimethylolpropane, which are used in the manufacture of polyurethane plastic and alkydes.

The complexones EDTA and NTA are synthesised from hydroxyacetonitrile (formaldehyde cyanohydrine) and ethenediamine and ammonia respectively. Hydroxyacetonitrile is produced from formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide (prussic acid).

Within the EU about 3,000,000 tonnes of formaldehyde was produced in 2007. World production was about 21,000,000 tonnes in 2006.

Formaldehyde was discovered in 1859. A Swedish factory for producing it was built in 1905. The raw material was methanol extracted from the charcoaling of wood.

Materials made from phenol and formaldehyde began to be manufactured in about 1900. When mixed with filler (sawdust, for example) they provided moulding compounds which could be cast into products. Bakelite is one such material and ranks as the first commercial plastic. Plastic did not soften when heated and could be used as an insulating material, e.g. for saucepans and smoothing irons. Before long similar materials were also being produced in Sweden.

The great majority of the formaldehyde used in Sweden today is produced within the country. The initial material for its production is imported methanol.

Contact person: Margareta Östman,  Tel +468 519 411 62
Swedish Chemicals Agency Box 2 SE-172 13 Sundbyberg, kemi@kemi.se
Tel +468 519 411 00 Fax +468 735 7698