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Engineered wood products, such as laminated timber, is a rapidly growing low-carbon alternative to concrete and steel. However, it is not perfect in terms of performance, durability, and sustainability. The adhesive used to fabricate engineered wood often contains fossil-based chemicals such as phenolics, formaldehyde, and isocyanates, which are a major concern. There is a great need to develop bio-based and high-performance adhesive methods as wood construction increases globally.

The performance of engineered wood products highly depends on the strength and water resistance of the bonding interface, where the adhesive and wood come into contact. Poor bonding strength and water sensitivity at the interface can create weak spots that limit both strength and durability.

“Instead of adding a separate adhesive layer, our method takes advantage of the wood’s own structure,” said Doctoral student Shiying Zhang. “By using the natural compatibility of wood with forest-derived pulp fibers, we create a robust bonding structure that becomes part of the wood itself. It shows that sustainability and high performance can go hand in hand.” 

The other main team members are Professor Lauri Rautkari and Academy Research Fellow Shennan Wang.

For more details, see the full study: Multiscale Interface Engineering Enables Strong and Water Resistant Wood Bonding, published in Nature Communications.