melamine

A white crystalline compound, C₃H₆N₆, used in making melamine resins and waterproof coatings, for tanning leather, and as an additive to fertilizer to regulate the rate of nitrogen release. Melamine has also been used as an illicit and harmful additive to foodstuffs to increase the apparent amount of protein present based upon assays for nitrogen.

A plastic made from melamine resin.

A colorless compound, formed, together with melam, by heating ammonium cyanate. It crystallizes in monoclinic prisms. Also called cyanuramide, triguanide, and triurethriamidin.

A nitrogenous strongly basic chemical substance (C3H6N6), structurally 2,4,6-triamino-1,3,5-triazine, produced from several cyanogen compounds, and obtained as a white crystalline substance; — formerly supposed to be produced by the decomposition of melam. Called also cyanuramide. It is used as one of the starting components (together with formaldehyde) in the preparation of melamine resins, including the commercially marketed Formica (TM). It is solid at room temperature, and sublimes at temperatures approaching 250° C, decomposing at 345° C. Density 1.573.

a strong aromatic heterocyclic base, tri-amino-triazine, used, in combination with formaldehyde to manufacture melamine resins such as Formica™

a white crystalline organic base; used mainly in making melamine resins