Bio-based Wood Adhesives

Book excerpt: Adhesive bonding plays an increasing role in the forest product industry and is a key factor for efficiently utilizing timber and other lignocellulosic resources. As synthetic wood adhesives are mostly derived from depleting petrochemical resources and have caused increasing environmental concern, natural product and byproduct-derived adhesives have attracted much attention in the last decades. Although adhesives made from plant and animal sources have been in existence since ancient times, increased knowledge of their chemistry and improved technical formulation of their preparation are still needed to promote their broader industrial applications. The primary goals of this book are to (1) synthesize the fundamental knowledge and latest research on bio-based adhesives from a remarkable range of natural products and byproducts, (2) identify need areas and provide directions of future bio-based adhesive research, and (3) help integrating research findings in practical adhesive application for maximal benefits. This book covers information on a variety of natural products and byproducts and the latest research on formulation, testing and improvement of the relevant adhesives in fifteen chapters written by an international group of accomplished contributors. This book will serve as a valuable reference source for university faculty, graduate students, research scientists, agricultural and wood engineers, international organization advocators and government agency regulators who work and deal with enhanced utilization of agricultural and forest products and byproducts.