Veneer-based structural wood composites such as plywood and laminated veneer lumber are commonly bonded with phenol-formaldehyde (PF) adhesives that are formulated with organic fillers. The fillers are typically derived from biomass waste streams, such as walnut shell or tree bark. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of biomass fillers on adhesive performance, particular in filler particle size and surface chemistry. All adhesive formulations were subject to the concentric-cyclinder viscometric analysis. Adhesive performance was tested by mode-I fracture testing. Adhesive penetration and bondline thickness were measured with light microscopy. Filler surface properties were studied by wicking measurements using the Lucas-Washburn equation. Filler chemistry was also investigated. The objective is to fundamentally understand the impact of PF/filler interactions on the adhesion of lignocellulosic composites.

Influence of biomass fillers in phenol-formaldehyde wood adhesion

247th National Meeting (2014)

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