Melamine foam
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Melamine foam is a
foam-like
material consisting of a
formaldehyde-melamine-sodium
bisulfite
copolymer. The foam, because of its
microporous properties, may remove otherwise "uncleanable"
external markings from relatively smooth surfaces. For example,
it can remove
crayon,
magic marker, and
grease from painted walls, wood finishings, plastic adhering
paints from treated wooden tables, adhesive residue, and grime
from
hub caps.
The open cell foam is microporous and its polymeric substance
is extremely hard, so that it works like extremely fine
sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves and pits in the object
being cleaned. On a larger scale the material feels soft.
Because the bubbles interconnect, its structure is more like a
maze of
fibreglass strands than like the array of separate bubbles
in, for example,
styrofoam.
The substance needs to be dampened slightly to work properly.
It wears rather rapidly, so a given block of foam generally
lasts only a single intensive scrubbing session, though it can
be used repeatedly for much smaller marks.
The foam is manufactured in Germany by
BASF
under the name "Basotect". It has been used for over 20 years as
insulation for pipes and ductwork, and has a long history as a
soundproofing material for studios, sounds stages, auditoriums,
and the like. The low smoke and flame properties of melamine
foam prevent it from being a fire hazard[citation
needed].
The usefulness of melamine foam for cleaning was discovered
in the early 21st century. It is supplied under the brand "Magic
Eraser" by
Mr. Clean (Procter
& Gamble). Other companies also market it for cleaning
purposes, either under brand names such as Coralite Ultimate
Sponge, or as a generic product sometimes described as a
"dirt eraser".
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