Hexamethylenetetramine
General Product Information
| Article | Hexamethylenetetramine |
| Synonyms | 1,3,5,7-Tetraazaadamantane, Hexamine, Methenamine, Urotropine, Formin, Aminoform, HMTA |
| CAS No. | 100-97-0 |
| EEG No. | 612-101-00-2 |
| EINECS No. | 202-905-8 |
| IMO | Class 4.1. |
| Tariff Code | 29336940 |
| UN No. | 1328 |
| VLG/ADR | Class 4.1, Packing Group III |
Description
Hexamethylenetetramine, also known as methenamine or urotropine, is a white, crystalline solid. It is formed by a condensation reaction of formaldehyde with ammonia. This substance is stable, versatile and is used as a raw material in chemical synthesis, resin hardening and as a solid fuel.
Characteristics
- Odor: Odorless to slightly ammoniacal.
- Hygroscopic: No.
- Color: White.
- Grade: Technical.
- Solubility: Highly soluble in water and alcohol.
- Shape: Crystals or powder.
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical Structure | C6H12N4 |
| Molar Weight | 140.19 g/mol |
| Melting Point | 280 °C (decomposes) |
| Boiling Point | – |
| Density | Approx. 1.33 g/cm³. |
| Refractive Index | – |
| pH | 7-8 (at 5% solution) |
Applications
Hexamethylenetetramine is applied in various ways, for instance:
1. Chemical Industry
Important raw material for the production of phenol-formaldehyde resins (in brake linings, insulation materials and textile hardeners, among others).
2. Fuel tablets
Commonly used in solid fuel tablets for camping and military Applications.
3. Laboratories
Used as a formaldehyde source in chemical synthesis.
Interessing Links
- CAS Common Chemistry – Hexamethylenetetramine
- European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) – For chemical information and regulations.
- PubChem – Methenamine – Chemical information by the National Library of Medicine of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NIH-NCBI).
- Wikipedia – Hexamethylenetetramine