Properties of an organokaolin-modified soybean meal-based adhesive used for adhering cotton fabric to wood composites

Fabrics with various patterns and textures can be used to decorate the surface of wood and/or wood composites, enriching indoor environments and reflecting a consumer’s personal taste. To adhere fabric to wood, an environmentally friendly defatted soybean meal (DSF)-based adhesive was modified by adding seven different types of inorganic fillers. The effects of optimal filler composition and concentration on adhesive performance were evaluated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and other techniques. Test results indicated that organokaolin improved the bond properties and usefulness of DSF-based adhesives for decorating wood composites with cotton fabric owing to the even distribution of organokaolin in the adhesive and reinforcement by intercalated filler particles. The cotton fabric bonded to the wood by the optimal DSF-based adhesive had a water resistance that withstood a boiling-water test and maintained a wet peel strength of 0.96 N/mm. However, an excess of organokaolin filler resulted in the formation of loose organokaolin aggregates and reduced crosslinking density of the DSF-based adhesive, which reduced the bond properties. The optimal organokaolin concentration in the DSF-based adhesive was 30 wt%, correlating to a 10.3 % cost reduction compared to an unfilled adhesive.