melamine foam
{{short description|Microporous polymer foam with multiple applications}}
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file:MagicEraser.jpg Magic Eraser" brand sponge, made from melamine foam]]
Melamine foam is a foam-like material consisting of a melamine-formaldehyde condensate. It is the active component of a number of abrasive cleaner sponges, notably the Magic Eraser.
It is also used as thermal insulation and as a soundproofing material.
Properties
The open-cell foam is microporous and its polymeric substance is very hard, so that when used for cleaning it works like extremely fine sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves and pits in the object being cleaned.
On a larger scale, the material feels soft because the reticulated foam bubbles interconnect. Its structure is a 3D network of very hard strands, when compared to the array of separate bubbles in a material such as styrofoam.{{cite web|url=https://home.howstuffworks.com/magic-eraser1.htm|title=HowStuffWorks "Melamine Foam"|date=25 August 2008 |accessdate=13 May 2012}}
Being microporous, it also effectively absorbs sound waves.
Being open-cell, it entrains countless air bubbles, giving it low thermal conductivity and thereby making it an effective insulator.
Cleaning
In the early 21st century, it was discovered that melamine foam is an effective abrasive cleaner.{{cite patent|country=US|number=20060005338|title=Cleaning Implement Comprising A Layer Of Melamine Foam|pubdate=12 January 2006|fdate=12 January 2006|pridate=12 July 2004|inventor=Gary Ashe, Alan Goldstein|assign1=Procter and Gamble Co.}} Rubbing with a slightly moistened foam may remove otherwise "uncleanable" external markings from surfaces. For example, melamine foam can remove crayon, marker pen, and grease from painted walls and wood finishings, plastic-adhering paints from treated wooden tables, and adhesive residue and grime from hubcaps.{{cite web|url=https://household-tips.thefuntimesguide.com/2006/01/magic_erasers.php|title=Mr. Clean Magic Erasers: Creative Uses For These Household Cleaning Blocks That Truly Work Magic! - The Fun Times Guide to Household Tips|accessdate=13 May 2012}} If the surface being cleaned is not sufficiently hard, it may be finely scratched by the melamine material. Similarly to a pencil eraser, the foam wears away during use, leaving behind a slight residue which can be rinsed off.
Other uses
Naturally lightweight, melamine foam is also used as insulation for pipes and ductwork, and as a soundproofing material for studios, sound stages, auditoriums, and the like. One advantage of melamine foam over other soundproofing materials is that it's considered not flammable. Melamine foam’s fire rating is Class A/Class 1 in the United States and ULCS-102 for Canada. If heated to {{Convert|465|F}}, the foam shrinks, and collapses.{{cite web | url=https://sonex-online.com/why-melamine-foam-is-the-better-than-other-sound-absorbing-materials/# | title=Why Melamine Foam is the Better Than Other Sound-Absorbing Materials | date=10 February 2021 }} These properties suit it as the main sound and thermal insulation material for Shinkansen bullet trains.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}
Environmental impact
Recent research has highlighted that melamine sponges contribute significantly to microplastic pollution. A study published in Environmental Science & Technology found that these sponges release over a trillion microplastic fibers globally each month due to wear and tear. These fibers can contaminate water systems and enter the food chain, posing environmental risks. The study suggests that making denser sponges and using alternative cleaning methods could mitigate this issue.{{Cite journal|last=Su|first=Yu|last2=Xing|first2=Baoshan|last3=Ji|first3=Rong|title=Mechanochemical Formation of Poly(melamine-formaldehyde) Microplastic Fibers During Abrasion of Cleaning Sponges|journal=Environmental Science & Technology|date=6 June 2024|doi=10.1021/acs.est.4c00846}}
See also
References
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External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150924074058/http://www.plasticsportal.net/wa/plasticsEU/function/conversions:/publish/common/upload/foams/basotect_consumer_eraser.pdf BASF Story about Mr. Clean Magic Eraser]
- [http://www.plasticsportal.net/wa/plasticsEU/portal/show/content/products/foams/basotect Basotect]
- [http://idongsung.com/pro-detail/?idx=92&series=y&lang=en VIXUM]
- [https://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/texcons/2005/11/msg00015.html Re: spot cleaning walls in gallery]
- [https://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/eraser.asp Dangerous Chemicals in Mr. Clean Magic Eraser] Snopes.com article debunking rumour about supposed dangerous chemicals in Magic Eraser