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Review
. 2021 Nov 24;13(23):4086.
doi: 10.3390/polym13234086.

Non-Formaldehyde, Bio-Based Adhesives for Use in Wood-Based Panel Manufacturing Industry-A Review

Diogo Gonçalves  1 , João Moura Bordado  1 , Ana C Marques  1 , Rui Galhano Dos Santos  1
Affiliations
Review

Non-Formaldehyde, Bio-Based Adhesives for Use in Wood-Based Panel Manufacturing Industry-A Review

Diogo Gonçalves et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

There is a strong need to develop and implement appropriate alternatives to replace formaldehyde-based adhesive systems, such as phenol-formaldehyde, in the industry of wood-based panels (WBPs). This is due to the toxicity and volatility of formaldehyde and restrictions on its use associated with some formaldehyde-based adhesives. Additionally, the current pressure to reduce the dependence on polymeric materials, including adhesives, from petrochemical-based sources has led to increased interest in bio-based adhesives, which, in some cases, already provide acceptable properties to the end-product. Among the potential raw materials for good-quality, renewable-based adhesive formulations, this paper highlights tannins, lignin, and protein sources. However, regarding renewable sources, specific features must be considered, such as their lower reactivity than certain petrochemical-based sources and, therefore, higher production costs, resource availability issues, and the need for toxicological investigations on alternative systems, to compare them to conventional systems. As a result, further research is highly encouraged to develop viable formaldehyde-free adhesive systems based on renewable sources, either at the technical or economical level. Moreover, herein, we also showcase the present market of WBPs, highlighting the obstacles that the alternative and new bio-based adhesives must overcome.

Keywords: adhesives; non-formaldehyde; review; wood-based panels.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Classification of WBPs adapted from Suchsland and Woodson (1987) [10].
Figure 2
Figure 2
End use for OSB panels in Europe during 2019, according to [3].
Figure 3
Figure 3
European production of WBPs during 2018, adapted from [12].
Figure 4
Figure 4
European uses for PB during 2019, adapted from [15].
Figure 5
Figure 5
OSB categories produced in Europe during 2018, according to [12].
Figure 6
Figure 6
MDF panels’ end use in Europe during 2018, according to [17].
Figure 7
Figure 7
End uses of PLW panels in Europe during 2018, according to [18].
Figure 8
Figure 8
Melamine–formaldehyde markets by region, according to [27].
Figure 9
Figure 9
Chemical structure of tannic acid, a tannin.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Chemical representation of a possible lignin structure and its components.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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