Paraformaldehyde
Paraformaldehyde (PFA) is the smallest polyoxymethylene, the polymerization product of formaldehyde with a typical degree of polymerization of 8–100 units. Paraformaldehyde commonly has a slight odor of formaldehyde due to decomposition. Paraformaldehyde is a poly-acetal.
Paraformaldehyde forms slowly in aqueous formaldehyde solutions as a white precipitate, especially if stored in the cold. Formalin actually contains very little monomeric formaldehyde; most of it forms short chains of polyformaldehyde. A small amount of methanol is often added as a stabilizer to limit the extent of polymerization.
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 30525-89-4 |
| Brand | Simalin Paraformaldehyde |
| Chemical Name | Paraformaldehyde |
| Chemical stability | Stable under recommended storage conditions. |
| Synonyms | Polyoxymethylene |
| Formula | OH(CH2O)nH(n=8-100) |
| Molecular weight | 30,03 g/mol |
| Odour | pungent |
| UN proper shipping name | ADR/RID: PARAFORMALDEHYDE IMDG: PARAFORMALDEHYDE IATA: Paraformaldehyde |
| UN Number | ADR/RID: 2213 IMDG: 2213 IATA: 2213 |
| Product Specifications | ||
|---|---|---|
| PROPERTY | VALUE | |
| PARAFORMALDEHYDE 91% | PARAFORMALDEHYDE 96% | |
| Colour | White | White |
| Appearance | POWDER/PRILLS | POWDER/PRILLS |
| Purity | 91% -94% | 96% (± 1.0%) |
| PH (AQUEOUS SOLN) | 9 MAX | 9 MAX |
| Melting Point | 135 TO 170 DEG C | 135 TO 170 DEG C |
| Acidity | 0.05% (MAX) | 0.05% (MAX) |
| Packaging | Polypropylene woven bags with loose inner polyethylene liner: 50 or 25 kgs. nett. | |
| Handling | Use of approved respiratory systems, goggles, gloves & suitable clothing is recommended. | |
| * Customise Specification Readly Available upon Request. | ||
Applications
- For manufacturing of Phenolic Urea and Melamine Resins (condensation reactions).
- For production of lon Exchange Resins (chloromethylation reaction).
- Disinfection of the air in rooms.
- Hardening of Glues.
- Manufacture of fluorescent pigments and soluble condensation product for textile auxiliaries, alcoholic solutions commonly known as ‘FORMOCEL’.
- It is used in the manufacture of Phenolic Resins, of Urea, Thiourea and Melamine Formaldehyde Resins (whenever high concentration of formaldehyde is required).
- Paraformaldehyde used in place of formaldehyde aqueous solution for high reactivity and concentrations of aldehyde contents reacted with low water contents.




