Recently, the Structural Thermodynamics and Micro/Nano Chemical Engineering research team from Guangxi University has achieved significant progress in the development and application of specialized wood adhesives. The groundbreaking study, entitled “Dynamically Crosslinking Bio-Inspired Adhesives with High Bond Strength and Multi-Environmental Adaptability for Ultra-Low Temperature Adhesion”, has been published in the prestigious international journal Advanced Functional Materials. The paper’s lead author is Associate Professor Gao Wei from the School of Resources, Environment, and Materials, with Assistant Professor Li Zequan serving as the corresponding author. Guangxi University is the exclusive corresponding institution for this research.

Wood-based composite materials hold tremendous potential for applications in extreme environments, particularly in polar construction and offshore petroleum engineering. However, conventional wood adhesives face multiple limitations—including poor water resistance, toxic residue issues, and high-temperature pressing requirements—that restrict their effectiveness in complex applications. To address these challenges, the team has developed an innovative cold-pressing adhesive solution. This breakthrough aims to significantly enhance the weather resistance, structural toughness, and environmental performance of wood products.

This research drew inspiration from the crosslinking mechanism of avian nest proteins. By performing in-situ epoxidation modification on carboxylated styrene-butadiene latex, nonpolar double bonds were converted into highly reactive epoxy groups. Through the combination of polyamino prepolymers, modified silica, and epoxy-modified emulsion, a dual physical-chemical crosslinking system was constructed, successfully developing a novel cold-press adhesive. The adhesive demonstrates exceptional dry/wet shear strength (4.03/1.96 MPa) and debonding energy (2.47 J). It maintains strength loss below 7% across an extreme temperature range (-196 to 85°C), with notably improved low-temperature brittleness (retaining 3.67 MPa strength at -196°C). Additionally, the material exhibits long-lasting solvent resistance (70% strength retention after 36 days of immersion) and flame-retardant properties.

Based on the outstanding properties, the team's heat-free wood adhesive demonstrates tremendous potential for widespread applications across various challenging environments, including polar construction, deep-sea oil extraction, and even space exploration. More than just a breakthrough for the timber industry, this innovative material provides a practical and sustainable solution for extreme-condition engineering applications, contributing to the advancement of global sustainability goals.

The research was supported by grants from the Guangxi Key Research and Development Program, Guangxi Major Science and Technology Projects, and other funding sources.