Melamine resin

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Melamine resin or melamine formaldehyde (also shortened to melamine) is a hard, thermosetting plastic material made from melamine and formaldehyde by polymerization. This plastic often is used in kitchen utensils and plates (such as Melmac) and is the main constituent of high-pressure laminates, such as Formica and Arborite, and of laminate flooring. Melamine-resin tile wall panels can also be used as whiteboards. Melamine resin often is used to saturate decorative papers that are directly laminated onto particle board; the resulting panel often is called melamine and often is used in ready-to-assemble furniture and inexpensive kitchen cabinets.

A special form of melamine resin is melamine foam, used mainly as an insulating and soundproofing material and more recently as a cleaning abrasive. Some other common applications of melamine formaldehyde are ships and trains.

Melamine resin utensils and bowls are not microwave safe, as they absorb the microwave radiation and heat up.