What are the uses of formaldehyde?

When a new house is renovated, people are worried about the formaldehyde exceeding the standard. Formaldehyde is not only in the newly renovated house, but also exists in chemical raw materials, such as simple handicrafts, cheap clothes, and furniture. Therefore, we should pay attention to using some methods to eliminate formaldehyde in our daily life, and it is best not to use things containing formaldehyde. Many people still don’t know the uses of formaldehyde. What are the uses of formaldehyde? Let’s take a look.

Formaldehyde is widely used in finishing auxiliaries for various textiles, such as finishing agents, color fixing agents, softeners, etc., to make the textiles wrinkle-proof, shrink-proof, color-fading-proof, and have a good hand feel. Textiles containing this additive will gradually release free formaldehyde during the process of wearing and using, causing respiratory and skin inflammation through contact with the human respiratory tract and skin, and in severe cases, it will also irritate the eyes. This problem exists in the clothes, curtains, bedding, etc. that we use in our daily lives.

2. Food

Formaldehyde is colorless and easily soluble in water. A 35% to 40% formaldehyde aqueous solution is commonly known as formalin. It has antiseptic and bactericidal properties. Some unscrupulous vendors use it to preserve food. For example, squid soaked in formaldehyde solution looks plump and delicious, and steamed buns made with water containing formaldehyde will not deteriorate after several days of sale. I hope everyone can keep their eyes open when buying food, and not simply think that it is good just because it is fresh, looks good, and has a long shelf life.

Formaldehyde has an even greater relationship with where we live. Formaldehyde is the main component of various adhesives that are ubiquitous in building materials, decoration, furnishings, and furniture. The formaldehyde that does not participate in the reaction in the adhesive, or that degrades later, separates from the adhesive and becomes "free formaldehyde". As the temperature rises, free formaldehyde evaporates into the air, forming formaldehyde pollution in indoor air.

According to the length of the volatilization cycle of free formaldehyde in various adhesives, these decorative, finishing materials, and furniture items containing adhesives can be divided into "short-term formaldehyde pollution release sources" and "long-term formaldehyde pollution release sources".

The release cycle of free formaldehyde in materials such as wall paint, wallpaper, putty, paint, curtains, mattresses, etc. is relatively short, generally around 2 weeks to 6 months, and is a "short-term formaldehyde pollution release source."

The urea-formaldehyde resin glue used to produce artificial boards has a formaldehyde release cycle of up to 3-15 years. It is a "long-term formaldehyde pollution release source" and the only long-term formaldehyde pollution release source indoors. Therefore, when purchasing decorative panels and furniture, you must consider the formaldehyde release problem.

The decorative materials, textile materials, car seat cushions, floor mats, and fixing adhesives inside the car will all have and volatilize formaldehyde pollution, especially in new cars where formaldehyde pollution is a more common problem. Therefore, formaldehyde must be treated before using a new car.

In addition, paper, cosmetics, cigarettes, etc. in our lives all release formaldehyde.