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Melamine is a strong organic base with the chemical formula C₃H₆N₆, with the IUPAC name 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. Melamine is produced from urea, mainly by either of two methods: catalyzed gas-phase production or high pressure liquid-phase production.

Melamine is primarily used to produce melamine resin, which when combined with formaldehyde produces a very durable thermoset plastic. This plastic is often used in kitchen utensils or plates (e.g. Melmac). It is often used in laminates. It is the main constituent in high pressure laminates such as Formica and Arborite and of laminate flooring. Melamine tile wall panels can also be used as whiteboards. Melamine resin is often directly laminated to particle board; the resultant panel is often referred to just as "melamine" and is frequently used in Ready-To-Assemble furniture and inexpensive kitchen cabinets.

With up to 6 active hydrogen sites, melamine reacts with formaldehyde and methanol to form a large family of resins. A resin ratio of 2 moles formaldehyde to 1 of melamine is used extensively to impregnate countertop surface paper laminates, making them flame and boil resistant. A resin ratio of 6 moles of formaldehyde to 1 of melamine followed by excess methanol forms a methylolated crosslinking resin used to impart heat and solvent resistance to numerous latex-based coatings.

Melamine, dicyandiamide (or cyanoguanidine) and cyanamide are related. The first is considered the trimer and the second the dimer of the third. All contain 66% N and provide fire retardant properties to resin formulas by releasing nitrogen when burned or charred.

Melamine foam has an interlinking bubble format which produces a structure more like a block of microscopic fibreglass than normal foam. It is used for soundproofing, as a fire-retardant material (but not as insulation, because it allows air to pass through its structure), and also as a cleaning product, the name-brand version of which is Magic Eraser, though other companies chop up and sell the same foam under their own, or generic, names. Because of its interlocking microporous nature, and the extreme hardness of the resulting fibres, it can seem to clean "uncleanable" things from any relatively smooth, hard surface, such as a crayon from a painted wall, or road grease from a hubcap.

Melamine is not known to be toxic in humans, According to animal studies, large amounts may ultimately lead to kidney stones, cancer or reproductive damage [1][2][3].

During the early part of 2007 there was a massive pet food recall by Menu Foods due to suspected contamination after the food proved deadly to pets. On March 30, 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration reported that it found melamine in the recalled pet food, in samples of wheat gluten used to produce the food, as well as in the kidneys and urine of affected animals. Prior to the incident, the effect of the compound on animal health had not been studied, and the compound's presence has not been conclusively linked to the animals' deaths, but the FDA’s Dr. Stephen Sundlof said, “Melamine is an ingredient that should not be present in pet food at any level.”^[1] The US FDA report says that Melamine is used as a fertilizer in Asia aside from its more common use in plastics. Previously, officials in the US state of New York identified aminopterin as the contaminant that caused the sicknesses.^[2]

• 1,3,5-Triazine
• Triazines

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