A new soy flour-polyepoxide adhesive system for making interior plywood

Abstract

Abstract In this study, triglycidylamine (TGA) was synthesized and evaluated as a crosslinking agent for soy flour (SF) for making five-ply plywood from yellow poplar. Glycerol polyglycidyl ether (GPE) and trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TTE) were also investigated as crosslinking agents for SF as adhesive for plywood. The plywood panels bonded with SF-TGA and SF-GPE adhesives did meet and those with SF-TTE adhesive did not meet the water-resistance requirement for interior application. The former two adhesives are formaldehyde-free, environmentally friendly, easy to use and readily available. They can be derived completely from renewable materials. The adhesion mechanisms are discussed in detail.