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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Bioproducts Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #269215

Title: Biobased adhesives, gums, emulsions and binders: current trends and future prospects

Author
item Imam, Syed
item Bilbao-Sainz, Cristina
item Chiou, Bor-Sen
item Glenn, Gregory - Greg
item Orts, William

Submitted to: Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2012
Publication Date: 8/10/2012
Citation: Imam, S.H., Bilbao-Sainz, C., Chiou, B., Glenn, G.M., Orts, W.J. 2012. Biobased adhesives, gums, emulsions and binders: current trends and future prospects. Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology. DOI: 10.1080/01694243.2012.696892.

Interpretive Summary: This article highlights the use of plant-derived and bio-based polymers in commercial products such as adhesives, gums, emulsions, coatings and binders. This article also describes sources, availability, property and application of a wide variety of bio-based polymers used in the adhesive and the packaging industries. Industrial products containing agriculturally-derived polymers add value to farm commodities and finding new markets help U.S. agriculture and American farmers.

Technical Abstract: Biopolymers derived from renewable resources are an emerging class of advanced materials that offer many useful properties for a wide range of food and non-food applications. Current state of the art in research and development of renewable polymers as adhesives, gums, binders and emulsions will be the subject of this review. Much of the focus will be on major biopolymers such as starch, proteins, lignin, oils and their derivatives found in both natural and modified forms, but other biopolymers of promising commercial interest will also be included where warranted. Polymers produced in nature are remarkably diverse in their chemistry, thermo-mechanical properties, rheology, plasticity and chemical reactivity. In particular, their capacity to undergo a wide array of chemical modifications yields materials of tailored properties suitable for use as adhesives, gums, coatings, emulsions and binders. Many such materials are now widely used in commercial products like building materials, lubricants, sealants, coatings, bonding aids, pharmaceuticals, paper, glues, flocculants, processed and frozen foods, as well as tissue engineering and bone repair products. This review provides a general overview of biobased polymers highlighting their source, availability, property and usage in industrial products along with the future prospects, challenges and opportunities they offer.