PRODUCTION OF WOOD ADHESIVE FROM LOCALLY SOURCED MATERIAL

1,*Otoikhian S. K., 1Ayo M. D., Salaudeen Z. I. and Diamond B.

Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author email id: [email protected]; [email protected]
Abstract

This research work produced adhesive that could adequately be utilized by the wood and paper

industry. From the analysis, it is observed that working properties of the wood adhesives

produced fall within standard values. The wood adhesives are cheap and it is equally known as

water resistance adhesive because it cannot be separated by water. Most of the raw materials

were sourced locally. Polyvinyl acetate (PVA) is the major component and contributes more of

the adhesive composition. Wood adhesives have joining properties of high strength with

moderate moisture resistance (water resistance), but fair resistance to heat and chemicals. The

working life of adhesive produced in this research work is less than that of the synthetic based

adhesive. Areas of application of wood adhesives are packaging materials, binding of papers for

paper work, plywood (furniture) and textiles.

Keywords: adhesive, plywood, moisture resistance, polyvinyl acetate, wood

Introduction

The earliest use of adhesive was discovered in central Italy when two stones flakes partially

covered with birch-bark tar and a third uncovered stone from the middle Pleistocene era (Cieca

200000 years ago) were found and this is thought to be the oldest discovered human use of tar-

hafted stones (Mazza et al. 2006). History made known that Egyptians used starch and cassava

during Pharaoh’s era, the claims was attested to the discoveries of glued cedre-wood chest and

other glued objects found in the thumb of Tutankhamun 1356 BC (Ebnesajjad, 2010).

Page 1 of 10
Man’s growing desire to hold two or more substance together by surface attachment so that they

can be used as a single piece coupled with the technological advancement has given birth to a

broad range of adhesive production to serve this purpose. The first commercial glue plant was

founded in Holland in 1690, that casein glues appear to have been manufactured in Germany and

Switzerland in the early nineteenth century, and that the first U.S Patent Number 183,024 on a

casein glue was issued in 1876. He mentioned that starch adhesive were used on postage stamps

when they were first issued in 1840, and that of the first U.S Patent Number 61991 on a dextrin

adhesive was issued in 1867 ( John, 1947). Before the advent of synthetic resin adhesives, semi

synthetic cellulosic materials were developed but when they were first dissolved in solvents and

used as an adhesive is not clear from literature. Historically, the first thermoplastic synthetic

adhesive (only partly synthetic) was the cellulose ester, cellulose nitrate, often called

nitrocellulose, and it is still one of the most important. Later, other esters such as the acetate were

developed as well as certain mixed esters (John, 1947). The aim of this study is to synthesize

wood adhesive from locally sourced raw materials with the views of using it in furniture work

and to achieve self and economic reliance by depleting our dependence on imported varieties of

foreign adhesives based on the growing need for adhesive in our industries.

Materials and Methods

Materials

1. Calcium Carbonate
2. Surfactant
3. Antifoam
4. Water
5. Polyvinyl acetate (P.V.A)
6. Nitrosol Cellulose
7. Formaldehyde

Page 2 of 10
 8. Starch
9. Sodium hydroxide
Methods
Extraction of Starch from Cassava: The cassava tubers were bought from Jattu market Uzairue,

Edo State. Before use, the cassava tubers were peeled and washed. The peeled cassava was

soaked in water for two hours (120 minutes) for hydration. The cassava tubers were ground with

grinding machine, in order to increase the surface area and reduce the starch granules. This

breaks the plant cell and thus releases the starch. After grinding, fine cassava was obtained which

was soaked in water and left for about four hours. Just to allow the cassava fine particles to

settle. The fine cassava particles were screen with 100 micrometer baft. More water was addled

as the cassava slurry was rubbed on top of the sieve to achieve proper separation of the chaff or

fibre from the main starch. As separation continues, the starch and water escapes through small

pores while chaff and cell debris are retained on the surface of the screen. The starch and water

was allowed to stay overnight in order for it to settle down. Then the water was slowly decanted

and the surface of the starch was washed with water remove dirt and non- starch which has

settled with the starch. The starch was sprayed on a clean tray and thoroughly sun-dried, so that

it could be stored and preserved. 20 tubers of cassava which weighed 8.0kg, after processing

yield 350g (0.35kg) of cassava starch.

Production of Wood Adhesive from Cassava Starch: 600g of cassava flour, two formulations
with different wood adhesive properties based on different additives combination were made.
The scheme for the formulation labeled A and B is given below in table 5 and 6
Table 1: Material Formulation

Material Quantity (PBW) Unit

Starch 90 g

Page 3 of 10
Water 290 ml

Sodium Hydroxide 20 g

Polyvinyl acetate 215 g

Calcium Carbonate 2 g

Surfactant 2 g

Anti-foamier 2 g

Nitrosol cellulose 2 g

Formaldehyde 2 g

72.5ml of water was introduced into a reaction pot, but the total quantity water required for the

production was 145ml, 1g surfactant were added to the reaction pot already containing water, to

ensure even mixing of the materials. To avoid foaming 1g of Anti-foamier was added to the

reaction pot contains water and surfactant. 50g of starch was dissolved in cold water, mixing of

the starch and alkali solution was done to enable the starch gel. In the course of gelatinization the

content of the amorphous areas of the granules is dispersed first, followed by the swelling of the

more tightly packed crystallone portions and amylose leaching.

The starch is then transferred to the reaction pot, after which it was left for a while to enable

proper mixing of starch and1g of calcium carbonate when this was done. 115g and 100g of

polyvinyl Acetic were introduced. A little quantity of the thickener was dissolved in a little water

from the remaining 72.5ml of water and then was added to the reaction pot. Bit by bit the 1g

Nitrosol cellulose was dissolved, the mixture was well stirred before pouring into the pot. Not

more than 1g was used in dissolving the thickener. 1g of formaldehyde was added for

preservation that is to free the glue from germs that might contaminate it.

Page 4 of 10
Analytical Test: Analytical tests were conducted to ascertain the behavior of the formulation in

relation to the standard produce from foreign materials. It also created the avenue to determine

the best optimum formulation for a better yield and quality. Some of these analytical tests carried

out are:

Bonding Strength Determination: Two pieces of wood, rectangular in shape to be rough in some

used. Some glue was smeared on a surface of each piece of wood before joining. Then the two

surfaces were left in contact for a night. The next morning force was applied to separate two

piece of wood.

Melting Point Determination: The wood adhesive produced were subjected to a test, they were

applied on the surface of hard wood cut to equal 3 by 3cm and then adhered to a light metal

sheet. The adhered hard wood and light wood sheet were allowed to set for 24 hours. After set up

they were placed in a water bath so that the metal piece can float inside the water bath. The

temperature of the water in the water bath was gradually increased. Care was taken not to the

water bath, so that water was not introduced into the joint as metal piece was floating on the

water in the water bath. There was thermometer that reads the temperature of the water bath. The

temperature at which the first slide movement of paper was read using a spatula corresponding to

the melting point of the adhesive. This method despite approximate is very effective and has

been in use for a long time.

Spread Ability Test: The rate of flow of wood adhesive is very essential and it is the aim of

spread ability test. Wood adhesive are semi-fluid form so that they can wet the surface and

subsequently possess the adhesive properties of chemical binding of the materials together.

Circles of 0.5m part were drawn on a glass plate and numbered from 1 to 10. The number written

on each circle determines the spread ability factor. A hollow cylindrical tube of height 3cm and

Page 5 of 10
diameter equal to circle number 1, was filled with the wood adhesive under test and dropped on

the on the number 1 circle. The tube was slowly removed and the adhesive spread to its fullest.

At full spread, (5 minutes) the spread ability number was determined from the rate of flow of the

adhesive. It is taken as the reciprocal of the wood adhesive viscosity.

Solid Content Determination: The solid content tells the quantity of solid present in a wood

adhesive. This was determined by weighing out sample of the adhesive under test in a Petri-dish

and kept it in an oven at 120 0C for 30 min. After 30minutes, the sample was weighed again. The

solid content of the sample was then determined using the expression below,

Weight of sample after drying 100

Solid content  
Weight of sample before drying 1

pH Determination: pH meter was used for this test. The pH probe was rinsed with distilled water

before dipping it made inside the sample to ensure accurate measurement. It is known that pH of

any sample ranges from 1 to 14 when the pH probe was dipped in the sample, the pH of the

sample was read from the pH meter screen. A pH paper can also be used for the experiment.

Moisture Content Determination: The procedure used for the solid content determination is used.

The expression of the moisture content is:

Weight of wet sample  Weight of dry sample 100


Weight of wet sample 1

Resistance to Moisture: Resistance to moisture of the wood adhesive were determined by

bonding papers of equal sizes 4x4 cm to wood using each sample of the wood adhesive. The
bond materials were left to set for 24 hours. They were subsequently immersed in water and left
for 24 hours. After 24 hours in water, the bonded materials (each representing a particular wood
adhesive sample) were removed from water and their resistance to moisture determined by trying
to pull the adhered materials a part.

Page 6 of 10
Shelf Life Tests: Here a long-term is carried out on adhesive samples to determine the life span.

This was accomplished by observing the change in spreading characteristics. The end of the

working life was observed as when the adhesive could no longer spread to provide uniform film.

Viscosity Test: The instrument used for this analysis is viscometer, which is used to compare the

viscosity of a sample with that of the distilled water. A tube was dry cleaned and clamped to

retort stand. The tube was filled with a distilled water of a known viscosity. A pendulum ball was

dropped into the liquid and was allowed to fall freer using a stop watch, the time taken by the

ball to fall to bottom of the tube was recorded. The tube was then raised and the procedure

repeated for two formulations.

Tack Time Determination: A 4 by 4cm cardboard paper was divided into 2 units, it was 20 and

40 minutes etc. a uniform smear of the formulation under test was made on the papers, and then

the papers were placed on the board. Pressure was applied over the surface to ensure and

penetration of the adhesive into the adherents. An increment was observed at the applied force.

Results and Discussions

Results

Table 2: Material Formulation A

Material Quantity Unit

Starch 50 g

Water 145 ml

Sodium Hydrogen 10 g

Polyvinyl acetate (P.V.A) 115 g

Calcium carbonate 1 g

Surfactant 1 g

Page 7 of 10
Antifoam 1 g

Nitrosol cellulose 1 g

Formaldehyde 1 g

Table 3: Material Formulation B

Material Quantity Unit

Starch 40 g
Water 145 ml
Sodium Hydrogen 10 g
Polyvinyl acetate (P.V.A) 100 g
Calcium carbonate 1 g
Surfactant 1 g
Antifoam 1 g
Nitrosol cellulose 1 g
formaldehyde 1 g

Discussions

The aim of this research work is to produce wood adhesive that can be used as adhesive in wood

makers industry and paper adhesive industry. In this study, two (2) different formulations of

adhesives were produced and the product was analyzed. Sample A from the formulation A with

more quantity of materials was applied on two pieces of paper. The two pieces of paper were

allowed to stay overnight, the next morning it was joined and adhered strongly. Formulation A

spread the least, the spread ability of adhesive varies with starch water ratio. The second sample

B from formulation B, with little quantity of materials was applied to the surface of the two

planks and allowed to stay overnight. The next morning the joining was seen to be smooth and

strong. The effect of Nitrosol cellulose was effectively determined from the results of the tests

Page 8 of 10
done on the formulations. This is because, it act as a thickener supplement to the bonding nature

of cassava starch, and not a prime initiator of any working property of the wood adhesive.

Hence, increase in viscosity is proportional to the starch concentrations. This corresponds to the

relation available from literature. Also increase in temperature increases the gelatinization

strength until the gelatinization temperature is exceeded. The starch concentration temperature

increases the temperature and leads to decrease the gelatinization strength, the product obtained

from the wood adhesive formulation produced in this research work is of small scale commercial

grade, and this was proved by trial adhesion on wood and paper. From the analysis, it was

observed that the project could earn a good yearly turnover, if it were to embark upon a large

scale commercial grade.

References

ASTM D2339-98 (2011): Standard Test Method for Strength Properties of Adhesive in Two-ply
wood Construction in Shear by Tension Loading, ASTM International, West Conshohocken.
PA.

Baroni, L. Cenci L., Tettemanti M and Berati M. (2007): Evaluating the Environmental Impact
of Various Dietary Patterns Combined with Different Food Production Systems”. European
Jounal of clinical Nutrition Pp 279-286.

Ebnesajjad, Sina (2010): History of Adhesive; Handbook of Adhesive and surface preparation:
Technology Application and Manufacturing. Amsterdam Elsevier Pp137.

F.A Keimel (1978): In Kirk-Othmer. Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology. Vol 1, 3rd Edition.
Willey, New York.

Ferry O. John (1980): Visco-Elastic properties of polymers” 3rd edition, John Wiley and sons
Inc, New York pg. 578-579

Frieden (1950): Chemistry and Industry of Starch” 2nd Edition Longman Group Ltd, London pg.
589.

Greenwood, Norman N, Earnshaw, Alen. (1997): Chemistry of the Elements. 2nd Edition.
Butterworth-Heinemann.

Page 9 of 10
Gunther Reuss, Walter Distel Dorf, Armin Otto G. Albrecht Hilt (2002): Formaldehyde in
illmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, Wiley-Vih, Weiheim.

Hass and T.G Hill, (1913): An Introduction to the Chemistry of Plant. Vol.11 Metabolic
Processes. Longman, Green and Co. Pp123-127.

Hildebrand, G.H (1982): Borax Pioneer, Francis Marion Smith” San Diego; Howell-North
Books. Pp267.

John Delmonte (1947): The technology of Adhesive, Resinhold, New York.

Mazza j. Thomos H., J. Jeery.(2006): A New Palaeothic Discovery; Tar-hafted stone tools in a
European Mid-Pleistocene Bone-Bearing Bed”. Juornal of Archealogical Science.

Mittal, K.L,. A. Pizzi. (2003): Historical Development of Adhesives and Adhesive Technology,
2nd Edition Rev. and expanded. New York; Marcel Dekker, inc. Pp 1and 2.

Neuse I.N.H (1963): Editor Adhesive Testing Committee Technical Association of Pulp and
Paper Industry #26 Mac Printing Company, U.S.A Pp 1–15.

Oppi Untractht (1982): Jewelry Concepts and Technology. Random House Digital. Pp 351.

Randley J.A (1968): Starch and its derivatives. 4th edition Mc Graw Hill Book Company New
York Pp141–145

Ropp R.C. Elsevier (2013): Encyclopedia of the Alkaline Earth Compounds. Elsevier. Pp 359-
370.

Salway, J.G (2006): Medical Biochemistry at a Glance. Second Edition, Malden MA, Blackwell
Publishing Pp 66.

Thorpes J.F and wisely M.A. (1973): Thopes Dictionary of Applied Chemistry. 4th edition, Vol 6
Longman group Ltd, London Pp 21–30.

Wadley, J. Barbie. G. Coolie. (2009): Implications for Complex Cognition from the hafting of
Tools with Compound Adhesive in the Middle Stone Age, South Africa; Proceedings of the
National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.

Weast, Robert C. (1981): CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 2nd Edition, Boca Raton,
FL; CRC Press. Pp 367.

Page 10 of 10