Hot-press adhesives are versatile products used in a broad range of applications, from construction plywood to furniture components to custom shaped disposable packaging. However, not all hot-press adhesives are equal; some contain potentially harmful formaldehyde. This substance can have adverse effects on indoor air quality and, consequently, human health.
Formaldehyde is a volatile compound that is often present in substantial quantities in common wood panel products like plywood and, to a greater extent, particleboard that use formaldehyde-containing adhesives like urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin. This widely used resin is very prevalent in modern society, currently being used for most wood-based composite products that make up the structural components of affordable furniture and cabinetry.
For this reason, while wood panel products with UF resin tend to be affordable, there may be a hidden cost associated with them. As alluded to previously, their utilization presents significant hazards, since UF resin products liberate a potentially harmful level of formaldehyde that is linked to respiratory issues and other health conditions. Moreover, since the industrial process that produces urea relies heavily on natural gas (heating exhaust gasses are combined with ammonia – which is also fuel-intensive to produce – in the first step to form urea), it can contribute to air pollution and has a substantial carbon footprint.
Formaldehyde-based resins are also commonly used in wall and flooring components. Although many of the wood panel products that are specifically designed for wall sheathing and flooring now use relatively expensive melamine-formaldehyde or phenol-formaldehyde (PF, also known as Bakelite) resins that release far less formaldehyde than UF resin, the industrial processes to produce these lower-emission formaldehyde resins also rely heavily on fossil fuels and thus share many of the disadvantages with the production of UF resin regarding pollution and carbon footprint. While resins like Bakelite are very strong and moisture resistant to the point that they can be used for exterior applications, efforts are underway to find alternatives for those types of adhesives as well.
In this article, we will delve into why using a water-based, no-added formaldehyde hot-press adhesives like the BreezebondTM family of adhesives is beneficial for both the consumer, the manufacturer, and the environment. We will also briefly discuss the common ingredients of a water-based adhesive or glue for the purposes of comparison to traditional adhesive resins.
What is a No-Added Formaldehyde Adhesive?
No-added formaldehyde adhesives are often formulated with ingredients derived from abundant, natural sources, inorganics, emulsions, or some combination thereof. Ideally, these ingredients may include plant-based materials like starches, waxes, natural gums, flours, and lignin. The plants that produce these materials are usually common, economical, abundant agricultural crops such as corn, soy, wheat, or even trees. In addition, if the NAF adhesive is water-based, it has little to none of the harmful petroleum-based solvents found in many existing petroleum derived adhesives, which also can account for a significant amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
Top Reasons to Choose a Water-Based, No-Added Formaldehyde (NAF) Hot-Press Adhesive
There are numerous compelling reasons why water-based, NAF hot-press adhesives are a better choice than common, traditional formaldehyde-based resins. Let us take a closer look at the most important ones:
Health Advantages
Prolonged exposure to elevated concentrations of certain VOCs can result in a range of health problems, from allergic sensitization to much worse, even certain types of cancer. This occurs from inhaling these VOCs, which are usually associated with the many common products that use formaldehyde resin adhesives. These products will slowly release formaldehyde gas over time. Water-based, NAF adhesives like BreezeBondTM can reduce exposure to such substances and greatly reduce or eliminate the associated consumer health risks, especially in indoor applications.
Also, factory workers can benefit from a more pleasant working environment, potentially leading to increased productivity and lower health care costs. Unlike their formaldehyde-based counterparts that can trigger allergies, water-based, NAF hot-press adhesives often contain natural agents that have little to no harmful effects upon casual skin contact and can be easily rinsed off. Not only that, but because they contain no added formaldehyde, they are often virtually odorless once cured.
Environmental Benefits
Water-based, NAF hot-press adhesives are often made using natural and renewable ingredients, making them able to slowly break down into harmless substances (biodegradable). This may, in some cases, even allow certain products that have reached the end of their life cycle to be considered as compostable “green waste”. Moreover, heavy use of petroleum-based products can significantly contribute to carbon emissions, pollution, and according to some experts, possibly even climate change. Consequently, use of adhesives that rely predominantly on natural sources can lower a product’s carbon footprint, while reducing dependence on scarce, ever dwindling fossil fuels.
Performance Merits
Water-based, NAF hot-press adhesives have come a long way in terms of their performance capabilities. Specifically, new strides have been made with regard to wet strength and moisture resistance, allowing them to be used in a greater range of applications that were traditionally reserved only for resins based on formaldehyde. With recent advancements, even new plant-based, NAF hot-press adhesives can perform well enough to meet stringent industry performance requirements for certain common products. For instance, an esteemed independent composites laboratory demonstrated that BreezeBondTM can pass the standard industry 3-cycle water soak test requirement for ¾” (19 mm) Type II (indoor) plywood.
This means that users may no longer have to compromise on performance when choosing a safer and more eco-friendly option. In fact, newer bio-based NAF adhesives have additional performance merits, making them an even more desirable alternative. For example, they may have a longer shelf life or even preferable mechanical properties for a given application, thanks to the fact these adhesives have similar thermal properties to the substrates they are bonding, which can reduce cracking.
Economic benefits
Safer, more sustainable adhesives have many economic benefits. They may reduce costs associated with dealing with hazardous materials, reduce liabilities such as health care expenses, and improve less quantifiable metrics such as employee retention rates and their sense of wellbeing, potentially leading to improved productivity. These advantages do not necessarily mean that water-based, NAF adhesives are more expensive. In fact, with the recent volatility in the crude oil markets, adhesives that use abundantly sourced, plant-based ingredients have more stable pricing over time, and may even be a way for your company to reduce costs, since many companies already use plant-based ingredients as “extenders”.
Sustainability Commitment
As more and more consumers and businesses become conscious of their ecological impact, they seek products and suppliers that align with their values. By choosing an adhesive sourced from abundant and renewable ingredients, companies can differentiate themselves from competitors and position themselves as socially responsible. This leads to a higher company environmental, social, and governance (ESG) rating, or a higher Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating on construction projects. This can help companies be awarded more contracts for new business in the future.
Let Specialty Organics help find the right adhesive for your products!
Specialty Organics offers a suite of formulations to meet your application’s needs. Our product development team can help your company bring products to market that are both safe and effective. Whether you require custom formulations, toll manufacturing, or private labeling services, we can find an arrangement to fulfill your requirements. For large volume requirements, sublicensing agreements are also available.
Get in touch with us now to gain more insight into how we can help your company thrive in tomorrow’s sustainable marketplace!