Print Syllabus

Syllabus

P000128 Bio-based Adhesives: Chemistry, Performance and Applications, 4.5 Credits

Subjects

Education cycle

Postgraduate level

Grading scale

Language

English

Prior knowledge

This is a course for doctoral students that are admitted at SLU or other university, with a background in material science, chemistry, and/or engineering.

Objectives

Learning outcomes

After this course, the student will:

1\. Understand the existing theories of adhesion.
2\. Gain fundamental knowledge about the different types of adhesives and distinguish between fossil-based and bio-based adhesives.
3\. Become familiar with the relationship between chemical structure and properties in the development of novel adhesives.
4\. Have a basic understanding of bio-adhesive solutions, their advantages and disadvantages, and key requirements/desired properties.
5\. Have foundational knowledge of wood industry products, their manufacturing processes, and performance requirements, including paper and cardboard, and wood-based panels
6\. Be able to synthesise and evaluate bio-adhesives for use in various wood industry products.
7\. Be able to use various analytical techniques and characterise adhesives and evaluate their performance for development and optimisation purposes.
8\. Be able to produce a wood panel type using bio-adhesives and conduct basic wood panel tests for development and optimisation, and be familiar with laboratory production and evaluation of particleboard, fibreboard, and plywood.

Content

Modules

The course is organised into seven modules, divided into theoretical and practical components to provide a comprehensive understanding of bio-based adhesives.
**Theoretical Modules**
Module 1: Introduction
\- Overview of the field of bio-based adhesives, with a focus on developments in Sweden and Europe.
\- Introduction to current challenges and opportunities in the wood products industry.
Module 2: Chemistry (Mandatory)
\- Fundamental theories of adhesion and their application to bio-based adhesives.
\- Classification of adhesives, including synthetic and bio-based alternatives.
\- Exploration of bio-adhesives for various substrates such as wood, paper, and other natural materials.
Module 3: Performance (Mandatory)
\- Key performance parameters of bio-adhesives, including bond strength, durability, and environmental resistance.
\- Factors influencing adhesive performance, such as substrate type, curing conditions, and formulation.
Module 4: Applications (Mandatory)
\- Industrial applications of bio-based adhesives in wood products and beyond.
\- Overview of manufacturing processes, product requirements, and standards.
\- Practical approaches to laboratory-scale manufacturing and evaluation of adhesive performance.
**Practical Modules**
Module 5: Synthesis (Mandatory)
\- Synthesis of bio-based adhesives using laboratory-scale techniques.
\- Understanding the preparation and formulation of adhesives tailored to specific applications.
Module 6: Analysis (Mandatory)
\- Spectral and thermal analysis of bio-based adhesives (e.g. FTIR spectrosocpy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetery (DSC))
\- Techniques for analysing adhesive properties, including viscosity, bond strength, and curing behaviour.
\- Characterisation of adhesives to evaluate performance against industrial standards.
Module 7: Performance & Application (Mandatory)
\- Laboratory manufacturing of wood-based panels using bio adhesives.
\- Performance testing of wood panels, including mechanical tests and environmental durability assessments.

Additional information

Course materials will be made available on Canvas at the same time the course is announced.

Responsible department

Department of Forest Biomaterials and Technology