SOYBEAN MEAL-BASED WOOD ADHESIVES ENHANCED BY MODIFIED POLYACRYLIC ACID SOLUTION

The effects of using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and a modified polyacrylic acid solution (MPA) on a soybean meal adhesive were investigated. Three-ply plywood specimens were fabricated to measure the water resistance of the adhesive (three-cycle soak test). The viscosity and solid content of the adhesive were measured. The cross-section and functional groups of the cured adhesive were evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, respectively. The results showed that using SDS improved the water resistance of the soybean meal adhesive by 30%. After incorporating MPA, the water resistance of the soybean meal/SDS/MPA adhesive was further improved by 60%, the viscosity of the adhesive was reduced by 81%, and the solid content of the adhesive increased by 15%. The plywood bonded by the soybean meal/SDS/MPA adhesive met the interior plywood requirements. SEM results showed no holes and cracks on the cross-section of the cured soybean meal/SDS/MPA adhesive. FTIR analysis indicated that more peptide linkages were formed in the cured adhesive as MPA was incorporated.