Biomimicry Case Study - PureBond® Technology: Wood glue without formaldehyde

In recent years the majority of glues used in wood composite boards have been urea-formaldehyde (UF) and phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resins.  However, these products may cause human health issues due to off-gassing of formaldehyde, which is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a potential human carcinogen, which can also cause irritation of the eyes, nose, lungs and throat.

However, development of no-added formaldehyde (NAF) glues and resins is a growing area, which not only provide a safer indoor environment, but also can reduce the use of fossil-based feedstocks, and are biodegradable.  This case study looks at how NAF adhesives based on abundant soybean feedstocks, taking inspiration from processes in nature can address this chemical hotspot, and how the product was intially researched by Dr. Kaichang Li of Oregon State university, and came to market through collaborations with Columbia Forest Products and Hercules.  Soy-based adhesives can now demonstrate cost-competitiveness with UF adhesives, and are being widely procured for buildings seeking to achieve complaince with air quality regulations and higher building rating scores.