Breakthrough in Nanotechnology: Eco-Friendly Adhesives with High Performance

Strategic Insights -

Researchers at Nanjing Forestry University have made a significant discovery in the field of nanotechnology, developing a new type of adhesive that is not only environmentally friendly but also possesses high performance characteristics. The study, titled "Tannin-hexamethylenetetramine Wood Adhesives With High Performance and Environmentally Friendly Characteristics: Based On Photocatalytic Degradation of Larch Tannins," was published in Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials and has been hailed as a breakthrough in the industry.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new adhesive, known as LT-H, is made from a combination of larch tannins and hexamethylenetetramine, which is treated with ultraviolet photocatalysis to reduce its mean degree of polymerization (mDP).
  • The adhesive has been shown to have excellent bonding strength, with a dry shear strength of 2.40 MPa, exceeding the requirements of the Chinese national standard (GB/T9846-2015, 0.70 MPa).
  • The adhesive also has a low formaldehyde emission of 0.16 mg/L, which is lower than the formaldehyde emission of poplar veneer (0.23 mg/L).
  • The research concluded that the LT-H adhesives could replace current formaldehyde-based options, achieving eco-friendly characteristics while maintaining high-performance advantages.
  • Financial support for this research came from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
  • The study was led by Shuguang Han and involved a team of researchers from Nanjing Forestry University, including Yuting Zhang, Wenjing Hu, Yan Zhang, Ying Zhou, and Nanfeng Zhu.

Statistics:

  • The dry shear strength of the LT6-10%H adhesive was 2.40 MPa.
  • The 3 h hot water (63 degrees C) shear strength of the LT6-10%H adhesive was 1.31 MPa.
  • The 3 h boiling water shear strength of the LT6-10%H adhesive was 1.20 MPa.
  • The formaldehyde emission of the LT6-10%H adhesive was 0.16 mg/L.
  • The formaldehyde emission of poplar veneer was 0.23 mg/L.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Nanjing Forestry University Details Findings in Photocatalytics (Tannin-hexamethylenetetramine Wood Adhesives With High Performance and Environmentally Friendly Characteristics: Based On Photocatalytic Degradation of Larch Tannins). Nanotechnology Weekly. October 20, 2025; p 1641.
  • Han, S., Zhang, Y., Hu, W., Zhang, Y., Zhou, Y., & Zhu, N. (2025). Tannin-hexamethylenetetramine Wood Adhesives With High Performance and Environmentally Friendly Characteristics: Based On Photocatalytic Degradation of Larch Tannins. Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials, 8(4).