YDN385 Water-Soluble Melamine Resin — CYMEL® 385 Equivalent for Waterborne Industrial Coatings

CHENGDU, China - Oct. 13, 2025 - PRLog -- 1. Industry Background: The Shift Toward Waterborne Coatings

Driven by global sustainability goals and stricter environmental regulations such as GB 30981-2020 (China), REACH, and RoHS, industrial coatings are undergoing a profound transformation toward waterborne, low-VOC, and eco-friendly systems.

According to the China National Coatings Industry Association, by 2024, waterborne industrial coatings accounted for over 45% of the domestic market, rapidly replacing solvent-based systems in coil coatings, automotive OEM primers, and metal protective finishes.

In this evolution, low-VOC, water-dilutable amino resins have become the key crosslinking component—delivering strong film formation, durability, and environmental compliance.

YDN385, developed by Ydnresin, was designed precisely for this purpose: a high-performance water-soluble melamine resin equivalent to CYMEL® 385, offering superior eco-compliance and cost efficiency.

2. Product Overview: YDN385 = CYMEL® 385 Equivalent

Product Description

YDN385 is a high-imino-content water-soluble melamine-formaldehyde resin that reacts with a wide range of waterborne polymers—acrylic, polyester, and epoxy resins—to form dense, chemical-resistant three-dimensional networks.

It is supplied as a clear, colorless liquid that dissolves completely in water and is compatible with both high-solids and water-dilutable coating systems.

Key Technical Properties

Property   YDN385   CYMEL® 385   Test Method

Solids Content (%)   80 ± 2   80 ± 2   ISO 3251

Viscosity (mPa·s @ 25 °C)   25 – 40   25 – 45   ISO 2884

Free Formaldehyde (%)   ≤ 0.3   ≤ 0.5   HPLC

pH (25 °C)   9.0 – 9.5   9.0 – 9.5   ISO 976

Appearance   Clear, colorless liquid   Clear, colorless liquid   Visual

Solubility   Fully water-soluble   Fully water-soluble   —

Conclusion:
YDN385 provides full formulation compatibility with CYMEL® 385, while offering lower formaldehyde content and enhanced stability in waterborne systems.

Market Value & Competitive Advantages

Comparison   CYMEL® 385   YDN385

Supply Lead Time   6–8 weeks (imported)   Immediate domestic stock

Cost   100% baseline   20–30% cost reduction

Free Formaldehyde   ≤ 0.5%   ≤ 0.3%

VOC Performance   Moderate   Optimized

Technical Service   Overseas support   Localized, fast response

Conclusion:
YDN385 can be directly substituted for CYMEL® 385 in most formulations, providing:

• Equivalent performance;
• Lower cost and supply risk;
• Compliance with both EU & China green standards.

Contact Us

Ydnresin | A Division of YDN Group
No. 2088 Jiuliting Avenue, Caoqiao Street, Pinghu City, Zhejiang Province, China
Email: sales@ydnresin.com
Phone / WeChat: +86-135-4070-2776
Website: www.ydnresin.com

Downloads & Support

Download the YDN385 Technical Data Sheet (TDS) (https://www.ydnresin.com/category/downloadable-content/)
Request a Free Sample for Formulation Testing (https://www.ydnresin.com/about-ydnresin/contact-ydnresin/)
Contact Ydnresin R&D Team for Customized Crosslinking Solutions (https://www.ydnresin.com/about-ydnresin/contact-ydnresin/)