Azodicarbonaminde
<p >Azodicarbonamide is used in food industry as a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_additive" title="Food additive" >food additive</a>, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flour_bleaching_agent" title="Flour bleaching agent" >flour bleaching agent</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improving_agent" title="Improving agent" class="mw-redirect" >improving agent</a>. It reacts with moist flour as an oxidizing agent.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide#cite_note-1" >[2]</a></sup> The main reaction product is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biurea" title="Biurea" >biurea</a><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide#cite_note-2" >[3]</a></sup> (not <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urea" title="Urea" >urea</a>), which is stable during baking. Secondary reaction products include <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semicarbazide" title="Semicarbazide" >semicarbazide</a><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide#cite_note-3" >[4]</a></sup> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethyl_carbamate" title="Ethyl carbamate" >ethyl carbamate</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide#cite_note-4" >[5]</a></sup></p>
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The United States allows azodicarbonamide to be added to flour at levels up to 45 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parts_per_million" title="Parts per million" class="mw-redirect" >ppm</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide#cite_note-5" >[6]</a></sup>
<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference" > </sup>
The principal use of azodicarbonamide is in the production of foamed plastics as an additive. The thermal decomposition of azodicarbonamide results in the evolution of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia gases, which are trapped in the polymer as bubbles to form a foamed article. Common examples of this application are window and door gaskets, padded floor mats, gym/exercise mats, shoe soles, etc.</p>
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Azodicarbonamide as used in plastics, synthetic leather and other uses can be pure or modified. This is important because modification affects the reaction temperatures. Pure azodicarbonamide generally reacts around 200 °C, but there are some products that the reaction temperature must be lower, depending on the application. In the plastic, leather and other industries, modified azodicarbonamide (average decomposition temperature 170 °C) contains additives that accelerate the reaction or react at lower temperatures.</p>
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Use of azodicarbonamide as a blowing agent in plastics is banned in Europe<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference" ><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azodicarbonamide#cite_note-6" >[7]</a></sup>.</p>