A salt or ester of cyanic acid (HOCN) containing the cyanate ion, used in chemical synthesis and manufacturing of polymers and epoxy resins.
From cyanic acid (from cyanogen) + -ate (suffix indicating a salt or ester). Standardized in the mid-19th century as organic chemistry developed systematic nomenclature.
Cyanates are the overlooked heroes of modern materials—they're used to make some of the toughest plastics and epoxy resins that hold together everything from airplane wings to dental fillings, yet almost nobody knows they exist.
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