Abstract
Different generations of hydroxy-terminated dendritic poly(amidoamine) (Gn-OH) with ethylenediamine as a core were prepared by successive alternative addition of methylacrylate and the core up to the third generation while employing ethanolamine only in the last step of every full generation. The different generations prepared were used as modifiers for urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. The enhanced durability and stabilizing effect of the (Gn-OH)s along with the reduced levels of free formaldehyde and improved mechanical performance of wood joints glued with the modified resins are discussed. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 115: 370-375, 2010