Bonding quality of adhesives formulated with okara hydrolyzates and phenol-formaldehyde resins for bonding fancy veneer onto high-density fiberboard.

In our study, the potential of okara as an ingredient of new bio-based adhesives was investigated for the production of fancy-veneered flooring boards. Okara was hydrolyzed by 1% sulfuric acid solution (AC) and 1% sodium hydroxide solution (AK). Phenol formaldehyde (PF) prepolymers were prepared as a cross-linker of okara hydrolyzates. Then, okara-based adhesive resins were formulated with 35% AC, 35% AK and 30% PF prepolymer on solid content basis. The adhesive resins were applied on high-density fiberboards (HDF) with the spread rate of 300 g/. After that, oak fancy veneers are covered on the HDF, and then pressed with the pressure of 7 kg/ at 120. The experimental variables were three mole ratios of formaldehyde to phenol (1.8, 2.1, 2.4), three assembly time (0, 10, 20 min), and two press time (90 sec, 120 sec), respectively. The fancy-veneered high-density fiberboards were tested by dry tensile strength, glueline failure by wetting and formaldehyde emission. Tensile strength of the boards exceeded the requirement of KS standard. The formaldehyde emissions were approached at the E0 level specified in KS standard. Based on these results, okara can be used as an ingredient of environmentally friendly adhesive resin systems for the production of flooring boards.