Urea formaldehyde (UF) resin is an opaque thermoset resin produced by heating urea and formaldehyde in a solution of ammonia or pyridine. The resin is widely used as a molding material and component of adhesives and protective finishes. The fiberboard industry is a large consumer of urea formaldehyde resin where it is used as a binding agent. Despite its many positive attributes, the resin does have one drawback in its release of formaldehyde gas under certain conditions. Urea formaldehyde resins are available as viscous liquids or as spray dried powders which require the addition of water prior to use.

Formaldehyde resins are extremely tough, scratch resistant polymers which lend themselves ideally to a host of domestic and industrial applications. Urea formaldehyde resin possesses excellent tensile strength, flexibility, and heat distortion resistance; when cured, it forms a very resilient finish. These characteristics have made the polymer a useful additive to a wide range of products such as wood finishes, adhesives, and binding agents. Many household and do it yourself (DIY) glues and finishing products are based on the resin.

When added to adhesive products such as wood glue, the resin forms a bond which surpasses the strength of the wood its used on by a healthy margin. The carpentry and cabinet making industries use many urea formaldehyde resin based products due to its strength and resilience. Varnishes based on the resin are used as final finishes which offer high levels of heat, spill, and scratch resistance. Its extreme strength also makes it an ideal adhesive for veneers and plywood.

The pressed wood industry makes extensive use of the resin as a binder for its medium and high density fiberboard (MDF/HDF) products. The outstanding flexural modulus and tensile strength of the resin lends fiberboard products excellent structural characteristics. These products are found in many domestic and commercial buildings in the form of wall cladding, laminate flooring, furnishing, and finishes. Composites and finishes based on urea formaldehyde resin are also highly resistant to chemical and bacterial attacks which make them ideal for kitchen and bathroom use.

One of the few disadvantages of using the resin is the potential health risks involved with exposure to the formaldehyde vapors released during curing and decomposition of the resin. This is particularly true of older UF foam products such as insulation sheets. Large scale installations of new UF based products may also release potentially dangerous levels of the gas. Since urea formaldehyde resin is readily available for hobby and home workshop use in both liquid and powdered forms, this point should be kept in mind when using the products. The mixing, application and particularly the curing of the resin should always be carried out in well ventilated areas to reduce exposure to the gas.