Wood Adhesives Science and Technology
FS-FPL-4703

Research Areas

Problem 1 -- The durability, safety, and structural performance of adhesively bonded wood assemblies needs to be improved.

When kept under dry conditions, wood and wood bonds are very durable, but some wood is normally subjected to significant environmental changes that greatly reduce the integrity of the bonded assembly. We are examining the chemical and mechanical aspects that lead to bond failure in order to understand how to make more durable bonded wood assemblies.

Problem 2 -- The adhesion of adhesives to wood and nonwood substrates needs to be better understood.

The interphase between the wood and the adhesive is where stresses are concentrated. We seek a better understanding of the mechanisms for bonding adhesives to wood by understanding the effects of changes in adhesive properties (e.g., flexibility) on the interphase and how wood properties in this region affect the performance of bonded wood assemblies.

Problem 3 -- The properties and performance of wood adhesive systems need to be improved.

We seek to more clearly define the fundamental relationships between adhesive chemistry and adhesive performance by a better understanding of the relationships between chemical structure and mechanical performance. This understanding will be applied to the development of new or modified adhesive systems with improved properties and performance.

Problem 4 -- More environmentally acceptable wood adhesives need to be utilized in wood composite panels.

There is increasing concern from consumers, regulators, and industry about the adverse environmental impacts of many of the compounds emitted during manufacture of wood products. Concerns about indoor air quality include all types of chemical emissions from composite wood products, and there is increasing interest in the ultimate environmental fate of discarded adhesives and adhesively bonded products.

For additional information see our Summary of research section.