Eco-friendly adhesives for wood-based composite production
In the process of creating composites, especially if we talk about wood-based composites, great attention should be paid on a variety of factors which affect the final composite properties.One of the essential elements is proper adhesive selection. Most common used are synthetic formaldehyde adhesives. We are aware how dangerous emission of free formaldehyde can be; we tend to minimize its usage. Using adhesives which are safe for the environment and humans as well, we tend to find safer composites which are ecologically acceptable and recognized as a better option.The paper briefly describes the adhesives used so far and their dangers, and selects several types of adhesives with basic characteristics that can meet the requirements for the production of ecologically acceptable composite panels, with an emphasis on wood-based composites. Certain tests and achievements in the development of these adhesives are also presented.