Diethylene tricarbamide-formaldehyde (DF) resins were investigated for syntheses at low mole ratios and at about 60 percent resin solids levels in water as low formaldehyde-emitting binders of wood composite boards. Tri-functional monomer D was shown to react readily with formaldehyde to form hydroxymethyl groups that then react to form methylene bonds between molecules to form DF resins of water-soluble oligomeric condensation products, similar to urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. DF resins showed a better storage life and longer pot life than, and similar cure times as, UF resins. DF resins also bonded laboratory particleboard as effectively as UF resins in terms of hot-pressing parameters and resultant boards' physical properties, while the formaldehyde content (FC) values of boards were lower by about 75 percent than UF resins, at about 2.3 to 4.4 mg/100 g wood by the Perforator method, significantly below the current regulation levels. Copolymer resins made with up to 15 percent urea substitutions performed equally well as particleboard binders with only slightly increased FC values, indicating some cost savings possible for industry. Copolymer resins made with up to 25 percent melamine also performed well with similarly low FC values and improved the physical properties of boards, indicating some lowering of loading levels of resin solids possible for industry, especially in the formulating of face layer resins. DF and copolymer resins are considered to be adaptable in current resin and board manufacturing plants to produce wood composite boards with a low formaldehyde emission potentials and without loss of productivity and board quality, a problem present in the current wood composites manufacturing industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]