melamine

pos>n. (Chem.) A nitrogenous strongly basic chemical substance (C3H6N6), structurally 2, 4, 6-triamino-1, 3, 5-triazine, produced from several cyanogen compounds, and obtained as a white crystalline substance; -- formerly supposed to be produced by the decomposition of melam. Called also cyanuramide. It is used as one of the starting components (together with formaldehyde) in the preparation of melamine resins, including the commercially marketed Formica (TM). It is solid at room temperature, and sublimes at temperatures approaching 250° C, decomposing at 345° C. Density 1.573. HCP61 [ 1913 Webster + PJC ]