As engineered lumber (lumber that has been enhanced using glued layers and joints) is being used more and more in our buildings and other infrastructure- and has environmental and mechanical advantages over concrete and steel- we became interested in exploring sustainable glue alternatives.
Bio-based adhesives are better for the environment, and are potentially biodegradable. Developing a successful bio-based adhesive could mean that all of those wood products like plywood, structural composite lumber, and wood composites could be made renewably and sustainably without having to change how we make them.
Results from our study on a linseed-oil-based wood adhesive can be viewed here. In the future, we are interested in continuing to develop sustainable adhesives for wood and natural fiber composites.