formaldehyde - Sciencemadness Dot Org

USES OF FORM ALDEHYDE 303
tion of approximate percentage distribution in the principal fields of utilization
from 1939 through 1942.
As will be seen, the major portion of formaldehyde u-as consumed by the
synthetic-resin industry. Uses in this field include not only the preparation
of cast and molded resins but also production of resin adhesives for
plywood and other laminated products, manufacture of resin lacquers,
FORMALDEHYDE:
HEXAMETHYLENETETRA^JNE
FORMALDEHYDE
SOLUTION
PARAFORMALDEHYDE
Srr*THETlC RtSINS
CHEMICALS A KB
PHARMACEUTICALS
MliCCLL-AhjEOUS
-fl
-a
5^M7HEriC RZS'.HS- J
iH£WICAL 2VNTM3IS o
AGSlCULTuRE t
OlSINfCCTAKTS
EMBALMING
LEATHER* PM
M! 5C ELUANtq U i
STNTKETIC RE51N5
*WOTO Cft J*KTT
l^J
-d
•B
PH*fti»iA££uTi t«J^5 ^
Ml SCO.LAN ECUS
Fig. 21. Uses of formaldehyde, paraformaldehyde, and hexamethylenetetramine.
Table 27. Approximate Volume Distribution of Formaldehyde in Major Fields of
Application (1939-1942). Average Percentage
of Formaldehyde
field oi Application Consumed
Synthetic resins ?S
Chemical syntheses J
Textile and paper industries _ 3
Disinfection, embalming and agriculture 3
Tanning and hardening 1
Miscellaneous uses __ S
Total 100
coating compounds, etc. About 6 to 8 per cent was employed in chemical
syntheses such as the production of dyes, sulfoxylate reducing agents,
pentaerythritol, explosives, rubber accelerators, corrosion inhibitors,
textile assistants, tanning agents, and miscellaneous chemical specialties.
Applications in the textile and paper industries consume relatively low
percentages. A small fraction is also used as a bactericide for prevention
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