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From Soybeans To Strong Bonds: The Science and Sustainability Behind BreezeBond™ Hot-Press Adhesive

The right adhesive technology is essential to ensure the success of your bonding application(s). It holds materials together, directly impacting the overall performance and lifespan of the bonded structure. While numerous adhesive options are available, soybeans have emerged as a preferable resource for crafting long-lasting, eco-friendly hot-press adhesives like BreezeBond™.

This article examines how soybeans emerged as a key ingredient in creating odorless, sustainable, high-performance adhesives. We will explore the formulation of BreezeBond™ and its numerous benefits that set it apart from traditional adhesives.

Soybeans: The Key Ingredient for Sustainable Adhesives

Most people know soybeans for their nutritional value. However, it also finds use in the realm of sustainable adhesive technology. Before petroleum-based products dominated the market in the mid-20th century, soy flour played a crucial role in the manufacture of some forest products. Specifically, soy-derived adhesives were predominantly used as the bonding agents in plywood.

Thanks to an improved understanding of protein chemistry in recent years, there has been renewed interest in creating soy-based adhesives that can surpass the capabilities of their earlier counterparts to meet modern standards. One novel soybean-derived adhesive is the BreezeBond™, which boasts increased strength and enhanced moisture resistance.

BreezeBond™: A Look at This Innovative Adhesive Technology

BreezeBond™ is a water-based soybean-derived hot-press adhesive, originally developed specifically as a high-strength plywood glue, although it has also been found to be useful in numerous other hot-press applications. In addition, it is currently the only soy-based hot press adhesive free of added formaldehyde and toxic petrochemical content. This makes it an eco-friendly option as the industry shifts to sustainable manufacturing.

To modify the soy flour, a compatible reagent adds functionality to the amino acid groups in the soy’s protein (soy flour is often more than 50% protein by weight). This helps create robust bioadhesive proteins, similar to the way barnacles, sea mussels, and other bioadhesives work in nature. For instance, even the small droplets of bio-glue that make spider webs sticky have a protein base. Once the soy-based glue has been made, an oxidizing agent can be added to facilitate the formation of additional cross-linking bonds if needed. This enhances the adhesive’s strength and performance while ensuring its environmental friendliness.

Key Benefits of BreezeBond™

BreezeBond™ stands out as a compelling option for the forest products industry, offering numerous advantages, including:

• Sustainability: Aside from having no petrochemicals and added formaldehyde, BreezeBond™ is also biodegradable. A plywood-based product using BreezeBond™ , for example, has the option to be composted at the end of its life cycle, reducing landfill waste. This gives companies a path to unrestricted growth in an era of ever increasing environmental consciousness.
• Versatility: BreezeBond™ boasts adjustable viscosity, while meeting or exceeding industry standards for wet or dry strength adhesion performance. This versatility allows it to be used with existing manufacturing processes across multiple product lines. In many cases it can even be blended with existing water-soluble adhesives (e.g. UF and PVA), which may work best in some applications like particle board with decorative paper or disposable packaging. The tradeoff, however, involving blending with traditional adhesives is the emissions footprint and biodegradability of the product would be impacted meaning it may no longer be compostable.
• Numerous Applications: BreezeBond™ finds application in far reaching sectors, including construction composite materials such as plywood and OSB (Oriented Strand Board), furniture and cabinetry paneling, veneers and decorative laminates including paper foils, and even disposable packaging, all while helping to meet performance and low VOC requirements.
• Low Cost: Perhaps the most enticing feature of BreezeBond™ is its cost. Its raw materials are abundant, low cost, and readily available. Even the process to manufacture BreezeBond™ is nearly 100% yield, being made in a single pot without the need for multiple expensive steps as is the case for other complex synthetic adhesive resins. This means it is possible for BreezeBond™ to be cost competitive with even the most established industry mainstays, including urea formaldehyde (UF) resin!
• Tested and certified: BreezeBond™ has been subjected to thorough scrutiny, ensuring it meets industry performance criteria as well as regulatory requirements pertaining to VOCs (volatile organic compounds). This includes rigorous strength testing at independent laboratories, such as the U.S. Forest Products Laboratory and upon testing for volatiles (formaldehyde), it was found to have levels below quantifiable limits. This means that, when BreezeBond™ alone is used as the adhesive, the only scents to smell are those that are naturally derived from the forest products and soybeans themselves!

BreezeBond™ by Specialty Organics: Giving forest product manufacturers a sustainable, high performance, low cost option for tomorrow’s environmentally responsible business landscape.

Discover the power of high-performing, plant-based hot-press adhesives with BreezeBond™ by Specialty Organics! Our innovative adhesive technology ensures lasting performance robust and reliable bonds in a range of applications, from decorative paper to cellulosic (i.e. wooden) composites like plywood and OSB. Beyond adhesives, we offer toll manufacturing, pilot plant services, scale-up, and custom synthesis.

Let us be your partner in unlocking the full potential of your projects! Contact us now and experience the transformative capabilities of BreezeBond™.

From Lab to Market: The Evolving Landscape of Chemical Manufacturing

Chemical manufacturing is a cornerstone of modern society, providing a wide range of products that improve people’s lives and support different industries. It refers to the process of transforming raw materials into various products through a series of chemical reactions, physical processes, and quality control measures. It’s a dynamic industry that continually evolves to meet changing demands and challenges.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look into the steps involved in chemical manufacturing and the latest challenges, trends, and technologies transforming the industry.

The Modern Chemical Manufacturing Process

Today’s chemical manufacturing process comprises several crucial stages, each playing a vital role in producing high-quality chemicals efficiently:

Research and Development

The chemical manufacturing process starts in the laboratory through research and development (R&D) efforts. Scientists and researchers explore new compounds, refine existing ones, and discover innovative applications. This initial phase lays the foundation for subsequent manufacturing processes.

Scientists diligently formulate chemical compositions to attain specific material properties like strength, stability, and moisture resistance. Rigorous tests, experiments, and simulations are conducted to assess these chemicals’ safety, efficacy, and environmental impact. As new process technologies become available, not only do they enable products that were previously unattainable, but they also offer methods of producing analogous or interchangeable materials that are able to fill the same roles as their predecessors in a way that better positions society for a sustainable future. This has recently been perhaps most apparent in the area of biofuels.

Process Design and Engineering

Engineers start the designing process following the successful development of new formulations in the laboratory. They optimize the production process, determining the most efficient, cost-effective, and lowest footprint methods for high volume manufacturing, often through use of pilot plants that approximate larger-scale facilities.

This phase involves the creation of process flow diagrams (PFDs) to outline the production process, equipment, and materials required for high yield manufacturing. Advanced automation systems are incorporated to monitor and control various aspects of the production process, enhancing precision and efficiency. Additionally, specialized equipment and stringent safety measures are integrated to protect workers and the environment. Recent process trends also allow for the use of more renewable feedstocks.

Production

Production starts with raw material handling, which involves sourcing and preparing raw materials for manufacturing. Process steps including chemical reactions are precisely executed in controlled environments to produce compounds with the desired functionality. A number of quality control measures are then implemented to guarantee that the final products adhere to specifications. Finally, the end products are packaged and prepared for distribution to industrial customers or consumers.

Market Distribution

Effective market distribution bridges the gap between production of a given material and consumer demand. Thus, market research is crucial in identifying target markets and understanding the needs of the customer. Meanwhile, efficient logistics and transportation of products and ingredients ensure they reach their destinations quickly and at the lowest cost. Oftentimes, especially with water-based products, the most efficient means of transportation involves drying out the product into a powder form that is to be rehydrated by the customer immediately prior to use, since hauling water over long distances can be in itself a costly endeavor. Sometimes, as is often the case in high volume manufacturing, it can make sense to manufacture a key ingredient in close proximity to a major customer’s factory.

Latest Innovations in the Chemical Manufacturing Industry

The chemical manufacturing industry is undergoing significant transformations driven by emerging technologies, changing market trends, and increasing regulatory scrutiny. For instance, it is embracing digitalization through technologies like data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT). This improves production processes and quality control while reducing operational and distribution costs by more efficiently managing inventories by balancing supply and demand. This is because it can now make more continuous adjustments in real time.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) also play pivotal roles in predictive maintenance and process optimization. In addition, there’s a growing focus on green chemistry, and scientists are using these methods to help unravel the mysteries of biological systems, allowing development of products that mimic compounds and processes found in nature, which are often more biodegradable with less environmental impact than their petroleum derived predecessors. The trend toward greener chemistry doesn’t stop there; chemical manufacturers are also actively working on reducing their carbon emissions through more sustainable supply chains, energy-efficient processes, renewable energy sources, carbon capture technologies, and waste reduction practices.

On the other hand, one of the main challenges faced by the industry is supply chain disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, transportation issues, and economic fluctuations. Intense global competition, especially from emerging markets, necessitates continuous innovation and efficiency improvement. The industry must also adapt to ever-stricter safety and environmental regulations to safeguard workers and communities. Sourcing from abundant, renewable feedstocks alleviates many of these concerns.

Let Specialty Organics Help Navigate the Path to Production for Your Product!

If you’re ready to take your product from the lab to the marketplace, Specialty Organics is here to assist you! We offer custom manufacturing services and innovative products to meet the specific requirements of your application. Our range of products includes BreezeBond^TM, a plant-based hot press adhesive with no harmful petroleum-derived compounds. Besides chemical manufacturing, we also offer custom synthesis, contract manufacturing, and pilot plant services.

Contact us today to learn more!