Dicyandiamde (DICY), with the scientific name of cyanoguanidine, is a strongly alkaline and water-soluble white crystalline compound. The chemical substance is cyanamide or cyanoguanidine dimer, which is mainly used in the production of melamine.
Cyanamide, the amide of normal cyanic acid, is a white crystal that melts at 45 ° C. It is easily soluble in water, alcohol and diethyl ether. It is commercially prepared by the carbide process from carbonate derived from limestone or by desulfurization of thiourea in the presence of a catalyst (mercuric oxide).
Cyanamide is prepared with cyanogen halides with ammonia. Cyanamide polymerizes to dicyandiamide and tricyantriamide for melamine when heated at 150 ° C.