STUDY ON PLANT-BASED ADHESIVES AND ITS APPLICATIONS IN PLYWOOD INDUSTRIES

Abstract

In this presented work, we report the modelling and development of an environmentally friendly adhesive obtained from the wattle-tannin and cornstarch. The manufacturing of wood composites is typically focused on formaldehyde-based and petrochemical-based adhesives for example phenol formaldehyde (PF), urea formaldehyde (UF), and melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF), which can aggravate health and environmental issues under certain conditions. Here, we describe a formulation of high-volume biorefinery byproducts used as formaldehyde-free glue as well as the adhesion characteristics of this formulation as measured by ultimate shear stress and wood failure rates. We demonstrate that adhesives exhibit the same advantageous qualities as formaldehyde-based resins, such as water tolerance, quick restoring, and equivalent performance in terms of adhesion. It would be necessary to develop and deploy suitable replacements for formaldehyde-based adhesives, such as urea formaldehyde, in the wood processing industry in light of prospective and even stricter future restrictions on its usage. The main objective of this project is to demonstrate the performance of cornstarch- wattle tannin-based adhesive in the plywood manufacturing. Plywood panels were glued together and mechanical properties were investigated to evaluate the mechanical performance of an optimal cornstarch-wattle tannin-based adhesive. The laboratory findings indicate that particleboards bonded well with our adhesive derived from cornstarch and wattle tannin.