Lignin adhesive: The sustainable adhesive of the future

adhesives+coatings is committed to making manufacturing processes more sustainable by supplying most innovative sustainable adhesives. Lignin adhesive is definitely one of our favorite sustainable adhesives. Why? It is 100% biodegradable and compostable! It is also one of the most abundant biopolymers on earth. In this article, we will tell you all about lignin and its application to wood.

What is lignin?

Lignin is a natural polymer found in large quantities in wood and other plants with woody cell walls. Together with cellulose, lignin makes wood strong and resistant to decay. Lignin is found in large quantities in trees and is what makes wood wood: strong, yet resilient to all winds. It binds cellulose fibers together, giving the cell wall rigidity.

Lignin used to be thought of as waste from the paper and wood industries. Lignin is extracted from wood because it binds the cellulose fibers (the basis of paper) together. To make strong, thin sheets of paper, lignin is removed during the pulping process. If there is too much lignin in the pulp, it will sag and the paper will tear more easily. So for strong, thin sheets of paper, it is better to remove the lignin and leave it as a residual product.

Lignin has much to offer and can be used perfectly as an adhesive. Lignin has strong adhesive properties, making it perfect for use as an adhesive. A super sustainable alternative to synthetic adhesives.

Lignin as adhesive

Lignin is a fully natural polymer. It already has a natural binding function in wood fibers. The hydroxyl groups in lignin allow it to be converted into a powerful biodegradable and compostable adhesive that can replace environmentally unfriendly adhesives such as PVA and PU adhesives.

The traditional adhesive industry relies heavily on petrochemical polymers such as polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and polyurethane (PU). While these adhesives are effective, they pose environmental problems such as CO? emissions, toxic emissions and non-biodegradable residues. Lignin adhesive, on the other hand, is completely bio-based and compostable.

To further optimize the adhesion of lignin, natural polymers such as plant proteins and sugars are added. As a result, lignin adhesive provides strong adhesion and is a fantastic alternative to conventional adhesives made from fossil fuels that are no longer biodegradable.

The lignine adhesive of adhesives+coatings

We offer an innovative lignin adhesive that is 100% biodegradable and compostable and can be produced on a large scale. Our adhesive utilizes the natural binding properties of lignin and is a sustainable alternative to traditional adhesives. This means that after use, our adhesive naturally decomposes without leaving any harmful residue.

Our lignin-based adhesives are designed to bond a wide range of materials, including:

Wood: Suitable for solid wood, plywood and particle board.
Paper & Paperboard: For bio-based packaging and paper bonding.
Cork: Natural bonding of cork products.

With a viscosity between 1,000 and 5,000 mPas and a processing temperature of 0°C to 100°C, our lignin adhesive can be flexibly used in various industrial processes.

The technical properties of our lignin adhesive

The adhesive has the following properties:

pH value: 4 - 4.5
Density: 1.0 - 1.1 g/cm³
Viscosity: 1,000 - 5,000 mPas
Processing temperature: 0°C to 100°C
Degradability: Completely bio-based and compostable

Lignin adhesive is naturally brown and has a strong adhesion to natural materials.

Lignin adhesive for wood

Lignin is a natural product derived from wood. It is a super strong solution for bonding wood. This makes it ideal for the wood industry. Not only is it better for the environment than traditional wood adhesives, but it also creates strong and durable bonds. Because lignin naturally bonds well with wood, our adhesive penetrates deep into the wood. This creates a strong bond that won't loosen.

Our lignin adhesive is not only environmentally friendly, but also effective for bonding different types of wood, such as solid wood, plywood and particle board. The adhesive penetrates deep into the wood fibers to create a strong bond. Whether for furniture production, wooden structures or woodworking, our lignin adhesive is a good solution. In addition, using our lignin wood glue is better for the working environment because it releases fewer harmful substances. The glue is biodegradable.

Because lignin glues wood well, lignin glue is great for the following applications:

Wooden furniture: Chairs, tables, cabinets, beds, etc. (gluing frames, panels, veneers)
Wood structures: Timber frame elements, beams, trusses, etc.
Flooring: Parquet flooring, laminate flooring
Interior panels: Wall coverings, acoustic panels
Packaging: Cardboard boxes, cardboard packaging
Paper products: Books, notebooks, labels
Cork products: Cork flooring, cork insulation
Foam products: Paper and wood foam
Textile products: Bonding of wood to textiles
Leather products: Bonding wood to leather
Skis: Wooden skis

The benefits of lignin adhesive

We have mentioned them briefly in this article, but here are the benefits once again:

100% Bio-based
Our lignin polymer adhesive is derived entirely from renewable resources and contains no petrochemical components
Biodegradable and compostable
Unlike synthetic adhesives that persist in the environment for years, lignin-based adhesives break down into CO? and water, similar to natural wood decomposition.
No harmful emissions
No volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released during the processing and curing of lignin adhesives, making them safer for users and the environment.
Versatile application
Suitable for woodworking, packaging, textiles, composites and other natural materials.

The degradability of lignin adhesive

The degradability of the glue is similar to the natural degradation process of plants and trees. It takes time, but the glue breaks down completely into CO? and H?O. Of course, this is one of the biggest advantages of this glue. But just as every advantage has its disadvantage, this degradability of lignin also brings disadvantages.

Water resistance
Lignin adhesives are inherently less resistant to long-term exposure to moisture than PU adhesives. For applications where water resistance is critical, an appropriate formulation may be required.
Other materials
Although lignin adhesive provides strong adhesion for wood and paper, it may be less effective in applications requiring extreme tensile or compressive forces, or bonding non-natural materials.

Despite these concerns about the choice of lignin in your manufacturing process, this adhesive is promising.

We truly believe that the industry's adoption of this adhesive will be a major step forward towards environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.

Integrate lignin adhesives into your production process

Looking for an environmentally friendly and compostable adhesive solution for your product or production process? Contact us for a consultation or a sample of our lignin-based adhesive. We can help you find the right adhesive for your application.